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NASCAR Drivers Make Pit Stop At Walter Reed
(October 4, 2009) | 
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NASCAR driver and owner Tony Stewart (red shirt) shakes hands and thanks Walter Reed Army Medical Center patient Spc.
Kenneth Parker, 25, for his service and
sacrifice Sept. 24, 2009. |
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WASHINGTON (Sept. 28, 2009) -- On their way to Dover International Speedway
for Sunday's AAA 400, NASCAR drivers made their annual pit stop at Walter
Reed Army Medical Center Sept. 24, to thank troops and the families for
their service and sacrifice for the nation.
"They are pretty amazing," NASCAR driver Joey Logano said after visiting
wounded warriors. "It really puts things in perspective."
Ryan Newman, driver for the Army's team, said every time he entered a
wounded warrior's room at Walter Reed, he thanked the warrior "for giving us
the opportunity to do what we love."
In addition to Logano and Newman, other drivers who spent time at Walter
Reed visiting patients and their families included Tony Stewart (Newman's
team owner), Juan Pablo Montoya, Reed Sorenson, David Ragan, Richard
Childress and Joe Nemechek.Stewart said troops and families he met at Walter Reed "are some of the
strongest people" he has ever met. |
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Montoya and Ragan commented on the positive attitudes of the troops
recovering at Walter Reed.
"It's really inspirational," Montoya said.
Newman agreed it was amazing speaking with the wounded warriors, many
expressing a desire to get back to their units in Iraq or Afghanistan
fighting the war against terrorism.
The classic rock band Foreigner joined NASCAR drivers visiting and honoring
troops at Walter Reed. The band also performed during an evening dinner at
Walter Reed sponsored by NASCAR.
As NASCAR drivers and executives visited troops in the hospital at Walter
Reed during the day, their vehicles were parked in front of Abrams Hall on
Walter Reed's main post. People were able to get a close-up look at the
glistening rainbow of high-powered vehicles, usually seen as only a blur
blazing around asphalt oval tracks in excess of 200 miles per hour.
Jimmie Johnson won Sunday's 400-mile race at Dover, followed by Mark Martin,
Matt Kenseth and Montoya. Stewart finished ninth, followed by Newman in 10th
place.
In the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship, the Army's former
NASCAR driver, Mark Martin, sits in first place, followed by Johnson,
Montoya, Kurt Busch, Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Newman, Jeff Gordon, Greg Biffle,
Brian Vickers, Carl Edwards and Kasey Kahne.
The drivers next take to the track Sunday at the Kansas Speedway for the
Price Chopper 400 in Kansas City. | |
Article and
photo by Bernard S. Little
Command Information Officer at
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Copyright 2009
Reprinted from Army website
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