In an effort to salute those who have given so much to protect our freedoms, Roush Fenway Racing and driver of the No. 17 Ford, Matt Kenseth, will be running a special paint scheme at Martinsville Speedway for the Goody’s Fast Relief 500. Kenseth’s car will be the No. 17 Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation/Gary Sinise Foundation Ford and will feature a salute to United States Marine Corps Corporal Josh “J.B.” Kerns.
Kerns was a combat engineer with the U.S. Marine Corps and was on a mine sweep on April 7, 2011 in Afghanistan during his third tour of duty. An improvised explosive device (IED) detonated nearby and Kerns lost both of his legs along with his right arm due to the blast.
Almost a year later after that fateful day, two-time DAYTONA 500 Champion Matt Kenseth, will race the No. 17 Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers/Gary Sinise Foundation Ford at Martinsville as a tribute to Kerns for the sacrifices he made for this country. As part of their Building for America’s Bravest program, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and the Gary Sinise Foundation announced that they will build a “smart home” for Kerns in his hometown of Ararat, Virginia which is located nearby to Martinsville Speedway.
As part of the fundraising efforts associated with this program, Lionel NASCAR Collectables will create a die-cast of the No. 17 Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation/Gary Sinise Foundation Ford and a large portion of those proceeds will go to building Kerns’ new smart home.
“It’s an honor for us to run this paint scheme,” said Kenseth. “We have a lot to be thankful for in this country, and a lot we take for granted on a daily basis. Our soldiers like J.B. make sacrifices every day that I don’t think anyone can truly comprehend, so I am grateful for the bravery he has shown. By running this paint scheme, I hope that people will support this great organization in order to build J.B. the home that he deserves for his service.”
“JB Kerns is a true American hero, and we can never totally repay him for everything that he has done to keep our country free and strong,” said Frank Siller, chairman of The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. “But with the help of wonderful people such as Matt Kenseth and organizations such as Roush Fenway Racing, Lionel NASCAR Collectables, Martinsville Speedway, and the folks at Goody’s, we can show JB how much we truly value his courage.”
The premiere of the No. 17 Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation/Gary Sinise Foundation Ford Fusion will take place on April 1, 2012 for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. The Goody’s Fast Relief 500 will be broadcast on FOX Sunday, April 1 with television coverage beginning at 12:30 P.M. EDT and radio coverage provided by the Motor Racing Network.
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