
HOMETOWN HEROES
Standing Out
Each year, the U.S. Army and its NASCAR and NHRA partners honor some of the most courageous U.S. Army Soldiers by inviting them to enjoy a special day at the racetrack at select motorsports events.
Chosen for their exceptional bravery and service, U.S. Army Racing Hometown Heroes get a true racing experience during their day at the track. Heroes watch the competition from the pit, meet U.S. Army Racing teams, and get special recognition for exhibiting a strength like no other in service of their country.
MEET THE HEROES
"My experience as a Hometown Hero at Bristol Motor Speedway was awesome. I was treated with respect and everyone was very kind to me. Getting to tour the pits with the Army team was just phenomenal. They showed me all the inner workings of the car and how everything went during a pit stop. Getting to sit in the pit row and watch the race was just awesome - I had a front row seat to all the action. I'm thankful for the experience the Army gave me for my service to my country and I hope all Soldiers get a chance to live an experience like this one day."
SSG Kevin Manning
Purple Heart Recipient
"Being honored as a Hometown Hero at the Carolinas Nationals was one experience I will never forget. The day started out with lunch with Tony Schumacher, where I was introduced and was able to tell my Army story to him and his crew. After Tony won the race I was escorted to the finish line and was one of the first to tell him congratulations. I got to ride on the back of an Army truck down the drag strip with Tony, waving at the fans. Once we arrived at Victory Lane, Tony and I went to the main stage together where he was presented with his trophy. The day was great and I felt that my service was appreciated by all those involved with that special day. Tony Schumacher is a great guy and appreciates the men and women he represents in the U.S. Army."
SFC Michael Gainey
Bronze Star with Valor Device Recipient
| SOLDIER - HONOR | EVENT - LOCATION | MOS |
|---|---|---|
| O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals Pomona, CA February 12 | ||
| Arizona NHRA Nationals Phoenix, AZ February 19 | ||
| Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals Gainesville, FL March 11 | ||
| Auto Club 400 - NASCAR Fontana, CA March 25 | ||
| SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals Las Vegas, NV April 1 | ||
| SAMSUNG MOBILE 500 - NASCAR Fort Worth, TX April 14 | ||
| NHRA 4-Wide Nationals Concord, NC April 15 | ||
| O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals Houston, TX April 29 | ||
| Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals Commerce, GA May 6 | ||
| NHRA Summer Nationals Topeka, KS May 20 | ||
| Coca-Cola 600 - NASCAR Concord, NC May 27 | ||
| NHRA SuperNationals Englishtown, NJ June 3 | ||
| Helluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 - NASCAR Brooklyn, MI June 17 | ||
| NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Bristol, TN June 17 | ||
| O'Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals Chicago, IL July 1 | ||
| Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals Norwalk, OH July 8 | ||
| Lenox Industrial Tools 301 - NASCAR Loudon, NH July 15 | ||
| Mopar Mile High NHRA Nationals0 Denver, CO July 22 | ||
| NHRA Nationals Sonoma, CA July 29 | ||
| O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals Seattle, WA August 5 | ||
| Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Brainerd, MN August 19 | ||
| ADVOCARE 500 - NASCAR Hampton, GA September 2 | ||
| Mac Tools US Nationals presented by Lucas Oil Indianapolis, IN September 3 | ||
| O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals Charlotte, NC September 16 | ||
| AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals Dallas, TX September 23 | ||
| NHRA Midwest Nationals St. Louis, MO September 30 | ||
| NHRA Auto Plus Nationals Reading, PA October 7 | ||
| AMP ENERGY 500 - NASCAR Talladega, AL October 7 | ||
| NHRA Big O Tires Nationals Las Vegas, NV October 28 | ||
| Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals Pomona, CA November 11 | ||
| Ford 400 - NASCAR Homestead, FL November 18 |











