Month: May 2021

During the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, all 40 NASCAR Cup Series cars will feature the name of a fallen service member on the windshield during the race. This Memorial Day weekend, the four Stewart-Haas Cup cars will assist in honoring some of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Kevin Harvick’s No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang will honor Staff Sergeant LeRoy E. Alexander (Green Beret, Special Forces Soldier), who was killed in the line of duty on June 3rd, 2005 during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Alexander enlisted in the Army as an Engineer in August 1997. He was assigned to 27th Engineer Battalion, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. SSG Alexander graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2004 and was assigned as an Engineer Sergeant to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served until his death.

Lee had a great sense of humor, was an adventurous motorcyclist , and always looked after his loved ones. He was an outstanding athlete playing running back and defense back with his brother Reggie. His high school sweetheart wife, Major Marissa Alexander, was five and a half months pregnant with twins Avery LeRoy and Alaya Leigh when he was killed in action. One of Lee’s first time watching car racing was in 2001 at Darlington Race – Southern 500 which he assisted in the re-enlistment ceremony for one of his best friends at Rockingham.

His awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and the Special Forces Tab. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

Aric Almirola’s No. 10 Smithfield Ford Mustang will honor Navy SEAL Master-At-Arms Second Class (MA2) Michael A. Monsoor, who was killed in action on September 29th, 2006 during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Originally from Long Beach, California, Monsoor served from 2001-2006. He was killed when a grenade was thrown onto the rooftop where he and other soldiers were positioned. Monsoor jumped on top of the grenade, absorbing the blast and saving his comrades. He died thirty minutes later from his injuries.

Monsoor was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President George W. Bush in 2008. The USS Michael Monsoor, the second ship in the Zumwalt class of guided missile destroyers, was named in his honor.

Chase Briscoe’s No. 14 High Point Ford Mustang will honor Navy SEAL Petty Officer 2nd Class (PO2) Marc A. Lee, who was killed in action on August 2nd, 2006 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lee was the first Navy SEAL killed in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Lee served from 2001-2006. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Lee provided cover as other members of the team prepared fellow SEAL Team 3 member, Ryan C. Job, for medical evacuation after being injured by an enemy sniper. Lee was killed after exposing himself for a third time, to draw fire away from his fellow team members. Posthumously, Lee was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star with Valor and the Purple Heart.

Cole Custer’s No. 41 Wow Wow Classic Waffles Ford Mustang will honor Petty Officer 2nd Class (SO2) Ryan C. Job. Job was critically injured in the War on Terrorism when an enemy sniper hit the rifle that he was holding, causing the weapon to shatter. Pieces of the weapon pierced his eyes, leaving him permanently blind.

He served from 2002-2007, and after returning from action and receiving treatment, Job went on to climb Mount Rainer, among other physical accomplishments. Job passed on September 24th, 2009 during a facial reconstruction procedure to repair injuries suffered in battle.

In addition to honoring these four soldiers, the No. 4, 10 and 14 cars will proudly boast a patriotic paint scheme to run the “600 Miles of Remembrance” tying in with NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola.

Kevin Harvick is a two-time winner of the Coca-Cola 600. He took the trophy in 2011 and 2013. Harvick beat David Ragan by .703 of a second in 2011 and he beat Kasey Kahne by 1.490 seconds in 2013. Harvick led only two laps in 2011 and just 28 laps in 2013, but each of those tallies contained the only lap that mattered most – the last one.

Kevin Harvick’s No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing team will honor Leroy E. Alexander, a Special Forces engineer sergeant assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina during Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600. Image from Stewart-Haas Racing
As part of #NASCARSalutes and the 600 Miles of Remembrance initiative during the Coca-Cola 600, the No. 4 Mobil 1 team is honoring Staff Sgt. Leroy E. Alexander, a Special Forces engineer sergeant assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. At 27, Alexander was killed in action while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom on June 3, 2005 when an enemy Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded near his Ground Mobility Vehicle during operations in the vicinity of Orgun-e, Afghanistan. A native of Dale City, Virginia, Alexander entered the Army in August 1997 and completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. After completing airborne training at Fort Benning, Georgia, in April 1998, he was assigned to 27th Engineer Battalion at Fort Bragg in support of XVIII Airborne Corps. Following completion of Special Forces Assessment and Selection, Alexander arrived at the 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) in October 2002 to begin the more than two years of intense training it would take for him to become a Special Forces engineer sergeant. He was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group in June 2004. Alexander’s military education included the Basic Airborne Course, the Primary Leadership Development Course, the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course, the Special Forces Qualification Course, the Spanish Language Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, and the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Mountain Course. His awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and the Special Forces Tab. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. Alexander is survived by his wife, Marissa, and parents, Ronald and Felicia Alexander of Manassas, Virginia.

— Stewart Haas Racing —

Chase Briscoe is riding a wave of momentum heading into the NASCAR Cup Series’ next race at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway after a career-best sixth-place finish last Sunday at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. The driver of the HighPoint.com Ford Mustang finished seventh and ninth in the first two stages, respectively, and powered through a race full of inclement weather to sit inside the top-10 once again when the race was called 14 laps before its scheduled distance.

This weekend at Charlotte, the No. 14 HighPoint.com Ford will sport a patriotic livery that includes an American flag adorning the side of Briscoe’s Mustang, and riding along for 600 miles around the 1.5-mile Charlotte oval will be Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL) Marc A. Lee of Portland, Oregon. Lee and his team members from SEAL Team Three, Charlie Platoon deployed to Iraq in the Spring of 2006 and attached to Task Unit Ramadi, under Task Unit Commander Lieutenant Commander (SEAL) John “Jocko” Willink.

On the night of Aug. 2, 2006, during a cordon and search operation of the heavily contested “J-Block” area, Charlie Platoon SEAL combat advisors engaged in one of the most ferocious firefights with enemy forces in what would become known as “The Battle of Ramadi.” While providing cover from a rooftop position for his SEAL teammates maneuvering on the street below, Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL) Ryan Job was critically wounded by an enemy sniper. Immediately, Job’s teammates from SEAL Team Three Charlie Platoon and members of SEAL Team Eight responded to their wounded comrade on the exposed rooftop. Lee fearlessly stepped directly into the position where Job had been shot just moments before and exposed himself to enemy fire to enable his teammates to lay down a heavy barrage of suppressive fire, recover Job and carry him off the rooftop to an evacuation vehicle below. After tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles engaged the enemy positions, the SEAL element entered a compound in pursuit of enemy fighters. While clearing the compound, the SEAL element was heavily engaged at close range from an adjacent building. Lee again moved directly into the line of fire to engage the enemy and protect his teammates and was struck by enemy fire and killed instantly. Job, whom Lee risked his life to save, lived three years before passing as a result of injuries he sustained during The Battle of Ramadi.

Having served from 2001 to 2006, Lee was the first Navy SEAL to be killed in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star with Valor and Purple Heart. In his final letter home, dated July 2006, Lee wrote, “To all my family and friends, do me a favor and pass on the kindness, the love, the precious gift of human life to each other.” His mother Debbie Lee put her son’s words into action following his passing, creating the non-profit charitable organization America’s Mighty Warriors. America’s Mighty Warriors honors America’s troops, the fallen and their families with programs that improve quality of life, resiliency and recovery.

— True Speed Communication —

Cole Custer and the No. 41 Feeding America®/Wow Wow Classic Waffles Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) head to the season’s longest NASCAR Cup Series race in two, very important roles: heightening awareness for hunger relief, and honoring a fallen soldier during Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

The dramatic, new paint scheme adorning Custer’s No. 41 Ford this weekend features Wow Wow Classic Waffles on the hood, and the words “Together We’re Feeding America” on both rear quarterpanels in support of Feeding America®, the largest hunger relief organization in the United States with a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs. Fans are encouraged to text HUNGER to 50555 to make a $5 donation to Feeding America®, by visiting the Feeding America® donation page on Facebook, or the donation page via the Feeding America® website. Each $1 donated helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America® on behalf of local member food banks.

Custer and his No. 41 team have already been hard at work helping to feed the area’s hungry. Last week, they gathered at Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina to assemble 1,200 backpacks to be distributed through the food bank’s School Backpack program. On Tuesday participated in a School-based Mobile Pantry in association with Second Harvest, distributing 60- to 70-pounds of food, including Wow Wow Classic Waffles, to some 180 local families in need at Devonshire Elementary School in Charlotte. The school has been hosting regular food distribution events for the past seven years with the help of Second Harvest.

As part of NASCAR’s annual “600 Miles of Remembrance” this weekend, the No. 41 Feeding America®/Wow Wow Classic Waffles Ford will carry the name of U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class (SO2) Ryan C. Job, a Navy SEAL who passed away in 2009 as a result of injuries sustained in action two years prior while fighting the War on Terrorism. Job was critically injured in The Battle of Ramadi on August 2, 2006, when an enemy sniper hit the rifle he was holding, causing the weapon to shatter. Pieces of the weapon pierced his eyes, leaving him permanently blind. The native of Issaquah, Washington, returned home to receive treatment, after which we went on to climb Mount Rainier among other physical achievements. Job passed during a facial reconstruction procedure to repair injuries he suffered in battle.

— True Speed Communication —

The Memorial Day weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway is one of the most patriotic events in sports, honoring fallen soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country. This weekend, Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), Smithfield Foods, and Aric Almirola will honor Master-at-Arms Second Class (MA2) Michael A. Monsoor, a Navy Seal from Task Unit Bruiser. Monsoor paid the ultimate sacrifice on September 29, 2006 during operation Iraqi freedom. When a grenade was thrown at the rooftop where he and his fellow sailors were positioned, Monsoor jumped on top of the grenade, absorbing the blast and saving them. Two years later, Monsoor was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President George W. Bush in 2008. The USS Michael Monsoor, the second ship in the Zumwalt class of guided missile destroyers, was also named in his honor.

In addition to Monsoor, two other members of Task Unit Bruiser will be honored on the hood of Almirola’s Mustang this weekend – Petty Officer Second Class Ryan C. Job and Petty Officer Second Class Marc A. Lee.

The recommendation to honor Monsoor and Task Unit Bruiser came from Almirola’s longtime partner Smithfield Foods. Dennis Organ, CEO of Smithfield, met Jocko Willink, the commander of Task Unit Bruiser, during a leadership building program hosted by Willink and his company, Echelon Front. Echelon Front’s mission is to educate, train, mentor, and empower leaders and organizations to achieve total victory. Echelon Front applies unmatched leadership experiences in the most dynamic and complex environments to help clients solve problems, overcome obstacles, and win.

In addition to honoring Monsoor and Task Unit Bruiser, SHR will be showing its admiration for all who have made the ultimate sacrifice and the challenges faced by their families by supporting the America’s Mighty Warriors Foundation. Debbie Lee, after the death of her son and Navy Seal Marc Lee, started America’s Mighty Warriors to honor and support troops, veterans and Gold Star families. The foundation provides programs and therapies that improve quality of life, resiliency and recovery after injury or loss. To learn more, request assistance or to find out what can be done to help, visit www.AmericasMightyWarriors.org.

— True Speed Communication —