NASCAR Teams Come Together to Honor Troops for Memorial NASCAR Teams Come Together to Honor Troops for Memorial Day
CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ –Though NASCAR Sprint Cup racing teams may be known for their intense competition on the track, there is one thing they always come together for off the track – their support for our nation’s armed forces. This Memorial Day, two teams in particular are taking that support to another level. In partnership with the Armed Forces Foundation, Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) and Richard Childress Racing (RCR) have put together a series of weekend events to honor our troops and raise awareness about the difficulties service members and their families face in defense of our country.
Armed Forces Foundation
Several weeks ago at the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Motor Speedway, Aaron’s Inc. and MWR unveiled the Armed Forces Foundation/Aaron’s Dream Car to be driven by David Reutimann at the Coca Cola 600 in celebration of Memorial Day and in support of the Aaron’s “Text ‘AFF’ to 50555″ campaign. Aaron’s further upped the ante by pledging a series of donations contingent upon the results of the race. On race day Aaron’s will donate $10,000 to the Armed Forces Foundation in support of its programs. However, if Reutimann earns a top 5 finish, that donation will be doubled to $20,000. Should Reutimann win (as he did last year), Aaron’s will contribute $200,000. NASCAR has donated pit and garage passes for our foundation to bring a group of wounded service members from the Bethesda National Naval Medical Center to cheer on the AFF Cup car.
After the race, on Memorial Day, Richard Childress Racing will be hosting our group of Marines, both wounded and active duty, at his racing shop and winery. On Monday, Memorial Day, Sprint Cup driver Jeff Burton has offered to give a private tour of the RCR shop facilities to these 12 service members followed by lunch with Burton and Richard Childress at the Childress Winery in Lexington.
Memorial Day commemorates the men and women who have fallen in the service of our country. At the same time, it is the perfect opportunity to show our current service members how much we care about them. NASCAR has always been an incredibly patriotic organization, and events such as these solidify the relationship between racing community and the military. For the soldiers, they also provide a well-needed source of recreation and respite from the stress of multiple deployments and prolonged exposure to combat. By supporting the Armed Forces Foundation’s programs and hosting wounded troops, MWR and RCR have gone above and beyond in support of our military.
About the Armed Forces Foundation
In 2001 the Armed Forces Foundation (AFF) was established as a 501(c)3 organization under the U.S. Department of Defense’s America Supports You program. AFF offers vital assistance to active-duty and retired personnel, National Guard, Reserve Components and military families as they cope with difficult circumstances. Through a multitude of programs the Armed Forces Foundation assists military families with utilities and rent; hotel and travel costs; holiday gifts for military children; and therapeutic recreational activities. The Armed Forces Foundation has been recognized by the President of the United States, the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Education and the Department of Energy for its dedication to America’s Service Members. For more information on our Foundation or to aid us in our mission please visit us at our website www.armedforcesfoundation.org.
