BROOKLYN – In an effort to recognize and salute veterans and their families around the country, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Foundation will be the title sponsor of its first-ever NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, the “VFW 200” on Saturday, June 12 at Michigan International Speedway.

“The VFW 200 and our association with NASCAR aligns well with our mission to help America’s service members and their families. This will help bring public attention to their urgent needs,” said VFW Commander-In-Chief Thomas J. Tradewell, Sr.

“The VFW Foundation has had a wonderful relationship with NASCAR driver, Kevin Harvick’s KHI racing team. We are excited about our on-going association with Kevin Harvick and proud to have the opportunity to sponsor the VFW 200. NASCAR, its fans and the Michigan International Speedway are perfect for such a patriotic event,” added Tradewell.

With the new VFW relationship, MIS has now secured sponsorship deals for all of its racing events in 2010.

“We’re very pleased to have the VFW Foundation sponsor our Camping World Truck Series event,” MIS President Roger Curtis said. “The VFW Foundation and its mission to provide help to America’s service members touches many of our race fans who are veterans themselves. This relationship will strengthen our commitment to our veterans and what they have sacrificed for our country. We appreciate and recognize their efforts.”
“The idea that we have secured sponsorship for all of our races in 2010 in these tough economic times is a positive message for MIS and the sport of NASCAR as a whole. It’s great that sponsors are still seeing the benefit of using the speedway as a platform to communicate their message to our race fans, who are the most loyal in motorsports,” Curtis added.

Additionally the Foundation will provide activities and informational venues at the track during the entire weekend to highlight the service and sacrifice of America’s U.S. service members and their families. Service members attending the event (many of whom are on leave from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan) will be given VIP status and provided with pit passes and access to NASCAR drivers, grandstand seating and complimentary food.

The venue will allow the VFW Foundation to showcase its “Salute to Military Families” campaign, designed to bring awareness to the unique problems and needs of troops and their families. It will be the second year the VFW Foundation has sponsored the “Salute to Military Families” program. Through its “Unmet Needs” initiative, the VFW Foundation has provided more than $3 million in direct financial assistance to military families for rent, mortgage, utilities, vehicle repair, medical expenses and basic food assistance.

Other VFW Foundation programs include “Operation Uplink’s Free Call Days” which facilitated approximately 20 million minutes of free long-distance overseas talk-time for troops in 2009; morale boosting “welcome home” and “sendoff” events for military units; and direct, free assistance to veterans obtaining VA entitlements from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.