TWO VETMOTORSPORTS WARFIGHTERS EMBEDDED WITH AMA PRO FLAT TRACK’S BONNEVILLE PERFORMANCE AT CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS
AUSTIN, Tex., April 8, 2016 – Through VETMotorsports, an award-winning, non-clinical outreach program that honors and empowers injured warfighters through active participation in motorsports, two combat-wounded United States Army veterans will be embedded with AMA Pro Flat Track team Bonneville Performance Racing and rider Jake Shoemaker on Saturday, April 9 at the Lone Star Half-Mile at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Tex.
VETMotorsports was created to provide inspiration and motivation to combat-wounded, post-9/11 warfighters by making them part of a new team and giving them a new mission. The program recruits participants, embeds them with professional race teams and covers all expenses for them a caregiver to take part in the experience.
“We couldn’t be prouder to be a VETMotorsports team and to have injured warfighters with us in Austin,” said Bonneville Performance Team Owner Bill Gately. “As a former Marine and combat-wounded veteran, I know the challenges disabled veterans face as they re-enter their lives after surviving combat. That’s why we’ve been honored to host veterans through the program the last two seasons and why we’re excited to be doing so again in 2016.”
Embedded with Bonneville Performance at COTA will be SPC Charlie W., who served in Iraq, and SFC Alfredo L., who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Both are from Austin.
As a Triumph factory team, Bonneville Performance is also participating in Castrol’s VETMotorsports Performance Match Fund, which awards bonuses to VETMotorsports based on participating teams’ on-track results in 2016. The fund contributed more than $9,000 to the program in 2015.
“Race teams participating in the VETMotorsports program have positively affected the lives of more than 100 injured warfighters,” said VETMotorsports Founder Peter Cline. “Having teams like Bonneville, and partners like Castrol and Triumph, stand behind us in our endeavor to reduce the shocking number of veterans we’re losing to suicide each day is incredibly gratifying. We can’t thank the team enough for embracing these injured warfighters and offering them renewed hope by making them a part of a team again.”
About VETMotorsports
Founded in 2012, Veteran Empowerment Through Motorsports (VETMotorsports) is an award-winning, non-profit, non-clinical outreach program that embeds qualifying warfighters with existing race teams to provide them with unique motorsports experiences. By placing veterans in hands-on, high-stress, team environments that mimic active duty, the organization gives them direction, empowerment and challenges that help them focus on ability and moving forward rather than disability and the past. To date VETMotorsports has helped more than 126 injured warfighters participate in 50 motorcycle and auto racing events across the United States. To learn more about VETMotorsports, participate in the program, or make a donation, visit www.VETMotorsports.org.
About Castrol
Castrol, one of the world’s leading lubricant brands, has a proud heritage of innovation and fuelling the dreams of pioneers. Their passion for performance, combined with a philosophy of working in partnership with manufacturers, has enabled Castrol to develop oils that have been at the heart of numerous technological feats on land, air, sea and space for over 100 years. Today, the company’s vast portfolio of high performance lubricants, including Castrol EDGE, Castrol GTX MAGNATEC, Castrol GTX and Castrol Power RS , are available in almost 140 countries worldwide. For more information on Castrol’s premium lubricants, please visit www.Castrol.com.
About Triumph
Triumph Motorcycles is the British motorcycle marque that produces a wide range of sport, cruiser, adventure and touring motorcycles. From the storied Bonneville to the class-leading Speed Triple and Daytona 675R, Triumph offers a blend of design, character and performance that result in truly distinctive motorcycles. First established in 1902 and now located in Hinckley, Leicestershire, England, Triumph has always set the pace for category-winning machines. The company is solely owned by Bloor Holdings Ltd., and Triumph Motorcycles America, its North American operations, are based in Atlanta. To see the full range of Triumph motorcycles, visit www.TriumphMotorcycles.com.
More, from a press release issued by Triumph:
CASTROL AND TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES CONTINUE SUPPORT OF VETMOTORSPORTS PERFORMANCE MATCH FUND
ATLANTA – Castrol and Triumph Motorcycles America are pleased to announce the continuation of Castrol’s VETMotorsports Performance Match Fund, which helps raise financial support and awareness for VETMotorsports, an Ohio-based 501(c)(3) status nonprofit organization that honors and empowers injured warfighters through active participation in motorsports.
Castrol’s VETMotorsports Performance Match Fund will award bonuses to VETMotorsports based on the on-track results of Triumph teams during the 2016 race season. As part of the initiative, VETMotorsports also will place post-9/11 injured warfighters onto Triumph teams to serve as official crew members during race weekends.
“Since 2013 the VETMotorsports program has positively affected the lives of over 126 injured warfighters plus caregivers,” said Peter Cline, Executive Director and Founder of VETMotorsports. “Having Castrol and Triumph as partners is not only exciting, but also assists us in our endeavor to reduce the shocking number of veterans we’re losing to suicide each day. With this collaboration VETMotorsports plans on 11 national outreach events within AMA Pro Flat Track. We can’t thank the Triumph teams and their partners enough for embracing these injured warfighters and offering them renewed hope by having them be a part of a team again.”
To help offset transportation costs, VETMotorsports will receive $400 per weekend when an injured warfighter is placed on a Triumph team. VETMotorsports earns additional donations from top finishes, pole positions and more based on the results achieved by Triumph teams as outlined below:
Castrol’s VETMotorsports Performance Match Fund
Win: $2,250
2nd Place: $1,125
3rd Place: $825
4th or 5th Place (Flat Track only): $400
Pole Position (MotoAmerica only): $600
Fast Qualifier (Flat Track only): $200
Heat Race Win (Flat Track only): $350
As part of VETMotorsports outreach initiative, SPC Charlie W. and SFC Alfredo L. will be placed with the Bonneville Performance team during this weekends AMA Pro Flat Track round at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
Veterans interested in participating in the VETMotorsports program must have sustained injuries while participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation New Dawn and provide a DD214 and rating letter from the Veterans Administration. Qualifying veterans may contact VETMotorsports athttp://www.vetmotorsports.org>.
About Castrol
Castrol, one of the world’s leading lubricant brands, has a proud heritage of innovation and fuelling the dreams of pioneers. Their passion for performance, combined with a philosophy of working in partnership with manufacturers, has enabled Castrol to develop oils that have been at the heart of numerous technological feats on land, air, sea and space for over 100 years. Today, the company’s vast portfolio of high performance lubricants, including Castrol EDGE, Castrol GTX MAGNATEC, Castrol GTX and Castrol Power RS , are available in almost 140 countries worldwide. For more information on Castrol’s premium lubricants, please visit www.Castrol.com<http://www.Castrol.com>.
About Triumph
Triumph Motorcycles is the British motorcycle marque that produces a wide range of sport, cruiser, adventure and touring motorcycles. From the storied Bonneville to the class-leading Speed Triple and Daytona 675R, Triumph offers a blend of design, character and performance that result in truly distinctive motorcycles. First established in 1902 and now located in Hinckley, Leicestershire, England, Triumph has always set the pace for category-winning machines. The company is solely owned by Bloor Holdings Ltd., and Triumph Motorcycles America, its North American operations, are based in Atlanta. To see the full range of Triumph motorcycles, visit www.TriumphMotorcycles.com<http://www.triumphmotorcycles.com/>.