Second Annual Veterans Race of Remembrance Set for Sunday

Photo: Brian Cleary/BCPix

Staff Sgt. Nathan Munnings, of Jacksonville, N.C., will officially retire from the U.S. Marine Corps after 13 years of service during the second-annual CrowdStrike Veterans Race of Remembrance powered by AWS on Sunday at Virginia International Raceway.

Munnings was looking for a way to transition back into civilian life when he found Operation Motorsport, a non-profit that offers motorsports programming for veterans with a disability rating in the U.S. and Canada. He applied for their Motorsport Immersion program and spent the season working side-by-side with the crew while embedded with Random Vandals Racing in the GT World Challenge America Series.

“Operation Motorsport has given me a renewed sense of purpose and a team to belong to as I transition out of the Marine Corps,” Munnings said. “Being welcomed into Random Vandals Racing has given me camaraderie, mentorship, and the opportunity to keep learning
and contributing.”

The second running of the CrowdStrike Veterans Race of Remembrance Powered by AWS features eight hours of racing for five categories based on horsepower/weight (Remembrance/Honor/Freedom/Valor/Sacrifice).

The green flag flies at 8:50 a.m. ET. The race will pause at 10:50 a.m. E.T. for a Remembrance Ceremony to remember all those who have given their lives for their countries.

Thirty veterans who participate in Operation Motorsport’s programs throughout the year will attend the race, crewing cars that are entered thanks to the support of Random Vandals, Powersports Garage, Tomlinson Motorsports and Slate Racing.

Others will participate in hot laps or learn more about tech.

Operation Motorsport offers two programs that meet veterans where they are or want to be – at home, through the Operation eMotorsport League (iRacing), or at the race track, through the Motorsport Immersion program.

“Seeing so many people passionate about veterans and their families come together at the race track has a tremendous impact on all of us,” said Tiffany Lodder, executive director, Operation Motorsport.

“Not only those of us who served or are military spouses, like Diezel and I, but for the veterans themselves. Last year, we brought 22 of our veteran beneficiaries to VIR for this race.

“This year, it’s 30, and both of our programs – Motorsport Immersion and Diversionary Therapy – will be well represented. It has been a tremendous lift, but when you hear the veterans and teams who compete talk about the impact this race has on their lives and their recovery every hard thing is worth it.”

Several teams that host veterans in their regular season campaigns will compete as well, including Medusa Motorsports and TWOth Autosport, or have connections to veteran causes themselves (Warriors in Motion; Not Fast, Just Furious Racing; and TFG Racing).

Connie Nyholm, CEO and majority owner of VIR, is excited to be part of it.

“VIR proudly supports veterans and active military throughout the year, but this is really a dedicated time for us to come together to honor both the sacrifices men and women make for our freedom and the world of recovery through motorsports,” she said.

Ryan Hendry, of Brighton, Ont., served 19 years, including 15 in Canadian Special Operations Forces Command. Hendry was embedded with FEL Tech this year.

“The Operation Motorsport Immersion Program has been the most effective recovery therapy I have ever taken part in,” Hendry said. “Even though this is my first year, I am much better now than I was before participating in the program. I truly believe Operation Motorsport can, and probably already has, saved lives. I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunity OpMo has given me.”

The CrowdStrike Veterans Race of Remembrance Powered by AWS will be broadcast live at 8 am ET Sunday on FLORacing, REV TV and Operation Motorsport’s YouTube channel.

Tickets for the CrowdStrike Veterans Race of Remembrance powered by AWS are free for Active Duty military and 50 percent off for veterans with a code from GovX.com. Click Here for tickets.

Source: Sports Car 365