A patriotic tradition at Talladega Superspeedway – the Freedom Trophy – returns for the 11th consecutive race weekend at the historic venue, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary as well as the culmination of the Transformation Infield Project presented by Graybar. The trophy will be awarded to the winner of the 1000Bulbs.com 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race (Oct. 13) by a warrior of the Wounded Warrior Project – Robert (Bobby) Woods, veteran of the U.S. Army.
This distinctive piece of hardware, a part of the track’s Military Appreciation ticket program that offers excellent savings to military members on grandstand tickets as well as new Talladega Garage Experience admissions, is just one of the many patriotic traditions the 33-degree banked track holds as a way to say “Thank You” to the men and women who serve in our military. The trophy features five-sided silver aluminum panels, each engraved with a military member and logo from one of our nation’s five military branches, centered around a waterjet cut star. It has been presented to Talladega Superspeedway’s winners in NASCAR’s premier series by members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard.
Woods was a U.S. Army Ranger who was severely injured while on patrol in Afghanistan in 2010. He’s been connected with Wounded Warrior Project ever since, and the support of his fellow warriors has encouraged him to become a success. Not long ago, he earned his MBA at the University of Georgia and now owns his own business, a poultry farm in northeast Alabama. He and his wife recently welcomed their first daughter, and he also has a teenage stepson. Woods is an avid NASCAR fan, and next weekend will be his first trip to the 2.66-mile venue. He will also be recognized in the official Drivers Meeting the morning of the 1000Bulbs.com 500, as well as be introduced to the fans as part of the pre-race festivities.
The Wounded Warrior Project, established in 2003, is a nonprofit organization that is committed to helping wounded veterans achieve their highest ambition. A warrior is a veteran and service member who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound while serving in the military on or after September 11, 2001. Warriors volunteer countless hours serving their local communities through multiple youth organizations, food banks, scholarship fundraising, fishing mentorship, and Widows of Veterans.
In addition to the Military Appreciation ticket program, Talladega Superspeedway is also proud to offer a special ticket program to first responders and their families as part of the First Responders offer. For more information or questions about Military & First Responders tickets, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com/military.
The track’s NASCAR doubleheader playoffs weekend will also be the grand debut of the new Talladega Garage Experience where fans will be immersed into the sport of NASCAR and the sanctioning body’s Most Competitive venue like never before. It will feature a fan walkway under the same roof as the garage bays of all of the race teams, BIG BILL’S 35,000 square foot Social Club, FREE Wi-Fi, Value-Priced Concessions, access to celebrate with the race winner in Gatorade Victory Lane and much more.
For more information on the highly-anticipated NASCAR Playoffs doubleheader weekend, featuring the Sugarlands Shine 250 for the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series (Oct. 12) and 1000Bulbs.com 500, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 855-518-RACE (7223).
TSS PR
