New York, NY – While race fans gear up for one of the biggest spectacles of the season at Daytona International Speedway®, the makers of Crown Royal Canadian whisky, today announced fans will also have the opportunity to choose one of America’s true heroes to receive naming rights to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway on May 1, 2010.
As part of the Crown Royal “Your Name Here” 400 contest, five finalists from various branches of the armed services have been selected to receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Daytona to participate in a special ceremony to unveil the grand-prize winner, as well as attend the historic Daytona 500. The finalists, in no specific order, are:
- Heath Calhoun, Army (retired), Clarksville, Tenn.
- Chris Dempsey, Army National Guard, Yuma, Ariz.
- Rick Hudson, Navy, Gulfport, Miss.
- Georgia Powell, Air National Guard, Harrisburg, Pa
- Brian Speach, Army National Guard, Clifton Park, N.Y.
Crown Royal begins the season as a primary sponsor of the No. 17 Roush Fenway Ford Fusion, driven by reigning Daytona 500 Champion Matt Kenseth. Along with all the activities surrounding the race in Richmond, Crown Royal will continue to fully integrate its “Please Drink Responsibly” messages into all of its NASCAR-themed initiatives, including its signature “Safe Rides Home” designated-driver event that has provided thousands of race fans rides home throughout the years.
This marks the first time in the four-year history of the Crown Royal “Your Name Here” program that only military service members were chosen as finalists. It also signifies the first time ever that fans will be able to cast their votes on www.crownroyal.com for whose name they think should be incorporated into the annual Cup Series event in Richmond. All the finalists were nominated by their family, friends or fellow soldiers for their ability to demonstrate the core values of the military in performing a selfless act that made them a hero.
“Crown Royal is fully committed to showing its support for military individuals that serve our country and the entitlement in Richmond is the perfect platform for us to elevate our support to the next level,” said Rob Mason, Senior Brand Manager, Crown Royal. “This year’s finalists are truly first-class individuals that have accomplished amazing feats while they were serving overseas or at-home. We look forward to recognizing all their achievements to ensure they truly feel like Royalty throughout their time in Daytona.”
Some of the selfless acts of this year’s finalists include resuscitating a boy after drowning and helping to save a group of local nationals who were critically injured. Fans of legal drinking age are encouraged to visit www.crownroyal.com to read a complete background on the finalists and to cast a vote. Voting ends on February 10, 2010. Media are invited to submit their individual votes to representatives of Crown Royal so they have their own voice in determining the winner.
“Richmond International Raceway couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this program with Crown Royal each season,” said Doug Fritz, President, Richmond International Raceway. “Allowing fans to select the winner is a great way for Crown Royal to highlight all the truly touching stories of this year’s finalists. We look forward to honoring another amazing individual with everything we do during the race in May.”
The winner will be announced from Daytona on February 12 with all the finalists, NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth and representatives from Crown Royal and Richmond International Raceway in attendance.
Rick Hudson, 47, of Gulfport, Miss., has been on active duty U.S. Navy for the last 29 years – 12 of those years were spent at sea. Hudson was nominated by several of his fellow service members, along with his wife and brother, for his role in implementing and putting into operation a cash cage that cashed check and dispersed more than $3 million within 24 hours to hurricane victims. His innovative employment of resources and creative leadership helped Mobilize and demobilize more than 8,000 personnel. For his efforts he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal as the Officer in Charge of his detachment. Rick was just recently selected for promotion to CW05. There are currently only three CW05’s of his designator in the entire Navy. Hudson has earned his NASCAR stripes the last 10 years during annual trips to the Spring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. If Hudson took home the grand-prize, for him, the true reward would come in that he would be able to represent all the honorable individuals of the U.S. Navy during the race at Richmond International Raceway.
Chris Dempsey, 44, of Yuma, Ariz., is a full-time member of the Army National Guard spends his days recruiting individuals to follow in his footsteps and enlist in the military. Nominated by several individuals from his unit, as well as his wife, Anna, SFC Dempsey has showcased the courage and dedication of the military numerous times throughout his four deployments. From saving the lives of 14 soldiers during a near ambush, to being a part of the unit that rescued the Vice President and several Senators when their helicopter made an emergency landing, Dempsey is truly an American hero. For his efforts, Dempsey has received a Bronze Star and the Army Commendation for Valor. In addition to a true passion for life, SFC Dempsey has an undying passion for NASCAR. Each season, Dempsey attends the annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway. If his name was chosen to go “under the lights” in Richmond, Dempsey looks forward to attending the driver’s meeting and for first time in his life being able to sit in a room with the world’s best 43 drivers
Brian Speach, 43, of Clifton Park, N.Y., is a full-time member of the Army National Guard. SSG Speach was nominated by State Command Sergeant Robert Van Pelt for his role in resuscitating a young boy who drowned at a Saratoga Springs hotel during a military conference in September 2009. Since joining the U.S. Navy in 1986, he has deployed six times to both Afghanistan and Iraq. An avid NASCAR fan, Speach has attended races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Daytona International Speedway. If selected as the grand-prize winner, Speach most looks forward to interacting with all the drivers and receiving a true behind-the-scenes look at America’s fastest sport.
After earning a teaching degree, Georgia Powell, 34, of Harrisburg, Pa., decided there were great opportunities in the military that she wanted to explore. Powell went on to become a medical technician for the Air National Guard. Throughout her tenure, Powell has made six deployments overseas, including visits to Iraq, Afghanistan and Qatar. Each deployment has been a truly rewarding experience for Powell because she was able to help people in desperate need of medical support. Powell was nominated by another member of her unit for her efforts in saving the lives of two Iraqi nationals that in return for her medical support provided critical intelligence utilized in the capture of Saddam Hussein. While Powell has never attended a NASCAR race, she is incredibly honored to be nominated. She most looks forward to the entire experience both at Daytona and in Richmond if she were to take home the grand prize.
Heath Calhoun, 30, of Clarksville, Tenn., retired from the Army when he lost both of his legs in an explosion in Iraq. For his efforts he received a Purple Heart, as well as the George C. Lang Award for Courage. Calhoun was nominated several times by various friends and family members for his determination and ability to inspire others to live their lives to the fullest despite their injuries. He works closely with the Wounded Warrior Project in an effort to help as many people as he can. Calhoun is currently training to compete in the Vancouver Paralympics for skiing. Growing up very close to Bristol Motor Speedway, Calhoun has always had a love for NASCAR and remembers listening to the races on the radio with his grandfather when he was young. Calhoun is completely taken aback by the entire experience of being selected as a Crown Royal finalist. While he would be truly honored to take home the grand-prize, he considers attending the Daytona 500 a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
