SUFFOLK, Va., July 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In just a few
short weeks, racing fans from across the country will flock to
Indianapolis for one of NASCAR's
biggest events of the summer. And despite being named the winner of
the annual Crown Royal "Your Hero's Name Here" program, which
renames the Brickyard 400 after a deserving hero, retired U.S. Navy
SEAL Jason Redman's name won't be displayed around the famed
Indianapolis Motor Speedway – for good reason.
Redman instead asked that the race bear the name of the charity
he and his wife, Erica, founded. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race
will officially be referred to as the Crown Royal presents the
Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at the Brickyard.
Earlier this week during a special surprise event in
Suffolk, Va., Redman was announced
as the winner of the annual program while completing his one
hundredth skydiving jump. Redman witnessed the reveal of the
official race logo, painted in the landing area at Skydive Suffolk,
from mid-air as he approached the ground.
After the logo unveiling, Redman was greeted by Erica,
Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug
Boles, and Crown Royal Associate Brand Manager Dany Penn. Redman was then escorted to a nearby
hangar for a party where he was able to celebrate the announcement
with his closest friends, colleagues and family.
"What an amazing and humbling opportunity to have my
organization as the official title of the Brickyard 400. This race
is an icon of NASCAR, Americanism and patriotism," said Redman
after being named the winner of the 2016 "Your Hero's Name Here"
program. "I can't wait to arrive in Indianapolis and meet the fellow finalists,
the awesome race fans, drivers and crews!"
Redman, of Chesapeake, Va.,
enlisted in the Navy following high school and served 11 years as
an enlisted SEAL before enrolling at Old
Dominion University. After graduation, Redman was
commissioned as a Naval SEAL Officer and served ten more years.
Throughout his career he served five deployments including two
combat deployments.
In 2007, Redman's Assault Team came under heavy machine gun fire
and he was wounded with shots to the face and left arm. While
recovering from his 37 surgeries at Bethesda Naval Medical Center,
Redman wrote and hung a sign on his door which became a statement
and symbol for wounded warriors everywhere. The original sign on
the door now hangs in the Wounded Ward at the National Naval
Medical Center Bethesda. Redman was honored with the Purple
Heart, the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Defense Meritorious
Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement
Medal, Navy Achievement Medals and two Combat Action Ribbons.
Following his recovery, Redman founded the non-profit
organizations Combat Wounded Coalition and Wounded Wear to help
combat wounded warriors overcome the wounds of war. The Combat
Wounded Coalition provides free clothing, clothing modifications,
and connections to other vetted service organizations for combat
wounded warrior needs. To date, the Combat Wounded Coalition has
helped over 500 wounded warriors return to daily life after
serving.
This will mark the tenth time Crown Royal has renamed a NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series race, and the first time a race will be named
after a charity, through the whisky brand's "Your Hero's Name Here"
program. After receiving hundreds of entries during the nomination
period, five heroes were chosen as finalists and adult fans had the
opportunity to cast their votes for the person they felt was most
deserving of the honor.
In addition to Redman, program finalists included: Piper Hill, retired Army Captain and founder of
Healing4Heroes from Atlanta, Ga.;
Michael Gallardo, retired Army
Sergeant from San Antonio, Texas;
Chris Mintz, former Army Infantryman
and community leader from Roseburg,
Ore. and Leigh Ann Hester,
Army National Guard Sergeant First
Class and Police Officer from Murfreesboro, Tenn.
"Jason Redman's perseverance to
overcome all of the adversities he faced is truly remarkable. The
dedication he has to helping veterans and families is a direct
reflection of his generous nature," said Dany Penn, Associate Brand Manager for Crown
Royal. "The race on July
24th will mark an exciting event and first NASCAR
race experience for Redman and we can't wait for him to see his
charity's name in lights at Indianapolis Motor Speedway."
As the "Your Hero's Name Here" winner, Redman will receive the
ultimate VIP race weekend experience, including garage tours,
driver introductions and pace car rides. He'll cap off race day by
delivering the trophy bearing his charity's name to the winner in
Victory Lane.
"We can't wait to host Jason later this month at one of the most
prestigious events on the NASCAR calendar," Boles said. "This race
has resonated with fans, drivers and teams with how it honors
heroes, and this year's installment is our most special yet with
the Combat Wounded Coalition."
While raising a glass to the heroes in your life, Crown Royal
reminds consumers to please drink responsibly.
About Crown Royal® Canadian Whisky
Crown Royal
Canadian Whisky is the number one selling Canadian whisky brand in
the US by value and has a tradition as long and distinctive as its
taste. Specially blended to commemorate a grand tour of
Canada made by King George VI and Queen
Elizabeth of Great Britain
in 1939, Crown Royal Canadian Whisky's smooth, elegant style
reflects its aristocratic origins and is considered the epitome of
Canadian whisky. For more information visit www.crownroyal.com.
Crown Royal encourages all consumers to please drink
responsibly.
About Diageo
Diageo is a global leader in beverage
alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits,
beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B,
Buchanan's and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel
One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don
Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more
than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on
both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock
Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people,
our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit
Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for
information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
About Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis
Motor Speedway, the world's largest spectator sporting facility,
has been the worldwide leader in motorsports entertainment since
opening in 1909. Its events in 2016 include the 100th Running of
the Indianapolis 500 presented by
PennGrade Motor Oil, the world's largest single-day annual sporting
event. Living up to its reputation as the "Racing Capital of the
World," IMS also hosts the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis in the Verizon IndyCar Series,
the Crown Royal presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at the
Brickyard in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the Lilly Diabetes 250
in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, the Brickyard Vintage Racing
Invitational in the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association and the
Red Bull Air Race.
Contacts:
|
Christina
Kavanaugh
|
Jamie
Hakim
|
Taylor
|
Diageo
|
(704)
644-6933
|
(646)
223-2314
|
ckavanaugh@taylorstrategy.com
|
Jamie.Hakim@Diageo.com
|
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SOURCE Crown Royal