NASCAR STARS READY TO HONOR U.S. ARMED SERVICES WITH THE SALUTE THE TROOPS MEMOR
Fans Can Show Their Support by Purchasing Special Salute the Troops
Die-cast of the NASCAR Drivers' Cars
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 20, 2008)¾Seven Sprint Cup drivers and two Nationwide Series drivers will lead all NASCAR fans in the Salute the Troops Memorial Day tribute to the armed forces on Saturday, May 24th, and Sunday, May 25th, at Lowe's Motor Speedway to kick off a nationwide effort to raise funds for military families worldwide.
· Participating drivers will each drive a specially designed car supporting a branch of the American military, including:
Jeff Gordon- DuPont Salute the Troops Chevrolet
Dale Earnhardt Jr. - National Guard/ Amp Energy Salute the Troops Chevrolet
Mark Martin - Army Salute the Troops Chevrolet
Jimmie Johnson - Lowe's Salute the Troops Chevrolet
Casey Mears -- CARQUEST/Kellogg's Chevrolet
Jon Wood - Air Force Salute the Troops Ford
Clint Bowyer - Jack Daniels Toast the Troops Chevrolet
Brad Keselowski - NAVY Salute the Troops Chevrolet (Nationwide Series)
Cale Gale -- VFW Salute the Troops Chevrolet (Nationwide Series)
· The pre-race festivities at the Coca-Cola 600 will feature some of the nation's top military leaders, a military themed pre-race spectacle, special entertainment and more. Military leaders expected to participate in the event include Lt. General Clyde Vaughn, Director of the Army National Guard; Honorable Nelson Ford, Assistant Secretary of the Army; and Bill Moll, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the USO.
· Two major organizations will work together to promote the Salute the Troops Memorial Day Tribute and support the event fundraising efforts - the USO and Speedway Children's Charities. Last year, the program raised $500,000 for the USO and military families.
· Diecast models and officially licensed merchandise of the participating NASCAR drivers will be available for sale at Motorsports Authentics trailers at Lowe's Motor Speedway during the race weekend and online at www.nascar.com and www.goracing.com in May. A portion of every Salute the Troops merchandise purchase will go to the USO to support the families of the brave men and women of the military.
· Lowe's Motor Speedway, Motorsports Authentics, Victory Management Group and the NASCAR teams and their respective sponsors developed the program. JHE Productions and Lowe's Motor Speedway will collaborate to create a fantastic pre-race tribute presentation
