NASCAR to salute military through American Heroes

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- For Lt. Gen. Clyde A. Vaughn of the Army National Guard, teaming up with NASCAR for a special tribute to the armed forces this Memorial Day seemed a natural.

"NASCAR is about people," Vaughn said Tuesday. "Everything they do is about the team approach. It's the same way with the services. Our core value is people. As technology catches up, unless you've got superior people and the teamwork to go with it, you'll never turn out on top.

"They do exactly what we do. We're very much respectful of the way they conduct their business. The tribute they give to our nation before every race that starts, their everyday caring about soldiers and the way the conduct themselves, we're very proud of them and it's a great sport to be associated with for us."

Vaughn was at Lowe's Motor Speedway to help announce the American Heroes Memorial Day salute to the armed forces that will take place at LMS prior to the Coca-Cola 600 on May 27.

Eight Nextel Cup drivers and two Busch Series drivers have agreed to participate in the tribute in a special way, as each will drive cars commemorating the various branches of the armed services during Memorial Day race weekend at LMS. It is all part of kicking off a nationwide effort to raise funds for military families in need.

Participating Nextel Cup drivers include Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mark Martin, Greg Biffle, Denny Hamlin, Ward Burton and Casey Mears. Busch drivers Shane Huffman and Jon Wood also are participating.

Vaughn said Gordon was instrumental in getting others involved.

"My understanding is that Jeff Gordon had a lot to do with this," Vaughn said. "Jeff Gordon attracted several other drivers and built the support behind this thing. To have 10 cars running the colors of our nation's services is a big event -- and especially right here in front of Memorial Day when we think about all those who served before us.

"It's a real commitment from NASCAR and Lowe's Motor Speedway and from these drivers and owners to do this."

Gordon said he felt privileged to be so involved.

"It's a no-brainer. The military, what they do, the men and women who put their lives on the line for our peace and our freedom ... these are the people out there who are allowing us to express ourselves in the way that we do. When you think about it like that, there is not enough that you can do for them," Gordon said.

Biffle pointed out that team owners and their sponsors were generous in donating the space on their cars that usually is reserved for product advertising.

"They're giving up quite a bit of exposure -- exposure that they've paid for," Biffle said.

The American Heroes Memorial Day Tribute is being supported by Sprint Nextel, which will conduct a national fund-raising campaign to encourage Sprint Nextel customers to support the troops with their donations to the USO.

"The USO is proud to be the beneficiary of the American Heroes campaign," said Edward A. Powell, USO president and CEO. "We thank Speedway Motorsports, Sprint Nextel, the NASCAR community and its fans for their support of our men and women in uniform and the USO. It is with great pleasure that the USO joins you in conveying our gratitude for their service and sacrifice."

By texting 67783 on their Sprint Nextel phones, customers can sign up to contribute to the campaign and receive the donation forms via e-mail.

"Sprint Nextel has a long tradition of working in tandem with the U.S. military, so it is a natural tie for us to extend our support to the American Heroes Memorial Day Tribute," said Dean Kessel, director of Nextel Cup Series marketing for Sprint Nextel. "It is an honor and privilege for our company to support the men and women who risk their lives everyday to serve and protect our country, and we hope the race fans embrace this worthy cause, too."

In addition, die-cast models and officially licensed merchandise of the participating drivers will be available for sale through Motorsports Authentics.

"It is an honor for Motorsports Authentics to be a part of this program with Speedway Motorsports, Nextel, Gen. Sadler, Victory Management and the teams," said Ruth Crowley, president of Motorsports Authentics. "All of the men and women serving selflessly in the military are heroes in their own right. Their families are also heroes which requires immense sacrifice. This is a great opportunity to recognize, celebrate and support them in a meaningful way. Our sincere hope is that people will come out in force to show their support of this program and to help the heroes among us."

Among the dignitaries who will lend their support to kicking off the program at the Coca-Cola 600 is Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to Humpy Wheeler, president and general manager of LMS.

"We're real honored to have Gen. Pace come down and join us," Wheeler said. "When you think of all the places the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff could go on Memorial Day weekend, the fact that he's chosen to come here is a tribute to the magnitude of this event and what we're doing here to celebrate the military."

Wheeler added that Sen. John McCain, a Republican presidential candidate, will serve as the honorary starter for the 600, while Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen will serve as grand marshal.

The USO

For more than 66 years, the USO has been the bridge between the American public and the U.S. military. In times of peace and war, the USO has consistently delivered its special brand of comfort, morale and recreational services to the military. The USO, a congressionally chartered, private, nonprofit organization, relies on the generosity of individuals and corporations to support USO activities.

Today, the USO delivers its programs and services at more than 130 locations around the world. In recent years, the USO opened centers in Kuwait, Qatar and Afghanistan to support service members participating in Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, as well as centers in Vicenza, Italy, and at the Dallas/Fort Worth, Raleigh/Durham and Denver international airports.

Military personnel and family members visited USO centers more than 4.7 million times last year. Services include free Internet and e-mail access, entertainment lounges, libraries and reading rooms, housing assistance, support groups, game rooms and nursery facilities.

America Supports You

America Supports You is an ongoing, nationwide program organized by the Department of Defense to showcase Americans' support for the men and women of the armed forces and their families. Since its launch in November 2004, the America Supports You program has welcomed more than 250 homefront organizations and more than 35 corporations to the team.

Many America Supports You supporters support the troops through letter writing, care packages, helping the wounded when they return home, assisting military families, sending an e-mail or kind gesture. To learn more about how you can support military personnel visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil.

The America Supports You dog tag, emblazoned with the America Supports You logo is the official emblem of the program. It serves as a visible force multiplier in projecting the message that America supports our military men and women.

Special Operations Hero Fund

The Hero Fund was started to raise awareness for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which provides scholarships and educational grants for the children of special operations personnel killed in training or real world combat. SOWF is committed to sending these children to college, providing them with educational opportunities their fathers would have wanted them to have.