Stars and Stripes for Whelen Engineering Racing ahead of Watkins Glen
June 27, 2018
Action Express Racing Ready to Fight Forward at Watkins Glen
June 30, 2018
Watkins Glen, NY (June 30, 2018) –Action Express Racing has partnered with Operation Motorsport, a non-profit organization that provides recovery, retraining and rehabilitation opportunities to injured service members and veterans through motorsports.
The team will host DeWayne Crawford CW3 (retired) at both Watkins Glen International, NY and Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, ON, on the two weekends that bookend the 1st of July Canada & July 4th USA birthday holidays.
Teamwork and organization are concepts service members know better than most, and working side by side with the race team members provides the opportunity to experience the sport in a meaningful way. Crawford joins the team as a returning participant of Operation Motorsport and has graduated to the “Engage” Program. Having experienced the program multiple times, Crawford is looking forward to being a contributing member of the already established cohesive teams that he is joining.
Crawford will be working with tire/body technicians cleaning and learning about racing with Action Express.
“It is great to be in this environment—this is really a team sport and I love it,” said Crawford after his first day in action with the team. “There is a great sense of camaraderie here and I’m looking forward to the race on Sunday!”
“Watkins Glen is a special event on our calendar every year being aligned with the 4th of July because we always have a chance to honor our soldiers on Independence Day,” said Chris Mitchum, Director of Race Team Operations. “Both the Mustang Sampling #5 and Whelen Engineering #31 Cadillac DPi.V-R’s will be carrying special liveries honoring our soldiers. They do so much for our way of life, and to work with Operation Motorsport is one more way to give back a little. We are looking forward to working with DeWayne this weekend and expect that we will be the ones learning, how lucky are we.”
In addition to their team responsibilities, beneficiaries will mix and mingle with fellow soldiers and racers at various social functions designed to foster new social interactions and networking opportunities. The program provides respite, recovery, and rehabilitation opportunities to some of those in need affected by military service. The organization endeavors to provide the guidance, environment and tools necessary to develop new skill sets where beneficiaries embark on their recovery.
After the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen, beneficiaries and their teams will prepare the race cars, pack up and move north to the the series only Canadian stop at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in Bowmanville Ontario.
“It astounds me every time I think of how far DeWayne has come on his journey,” said Tiffany Lodder, Executive Director of Operation Motorsport. “I knew that motorsports could be restorative and used effectively as a recovery tool for our injured soldiers and wounded veterans, and I’ve been truly blessed this year to have met and worked alongside both our countries finest. As I look forward, I know that there are so many opportunities to continue to provide exposure, inclusion and acceptance as these beneficiary’s transition into the civilian world.”
Thank you to all members of our armed services and their families for all of the sacrifices that are made to protect our American freedoms.
