Pocono Raceway salutes Muhammad Ali with moment of silence before race

LONG POND, Pa. — Pocono Raceway honored legendary heavyweight boxer and world champion Muhammad Ali, who died Friday, with a moment of silence in pre-race ceremonies for Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race.

Ali was 74 years old.

Before Saturday’s national anthem, the thousands in the track’s frontstretch grandstands saluted Ali with a moment of silence. The track also is expected to honor Ali prior to Sunday’s scheduled Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400 Sprint Cup race.

Ali was hospitalized in Phoenix Thursday in Arizona with a respiratory issue. He had suffered from Parkinson’s disease since the 1980s.

Ali's prowess in the ring and his personality and social activism make him one of the most recognizable sports figures of the last century.

He secured an Olympic gold medal in the 1960 Summer Games and became one of the youngest heavyweight champions of all time, stunning the boxing world with a knockout of Sonny Liston to claim the title in 1964 at 22.

Several NASCAR drivers saluted Ali on Twitter after learning of his death.