As part of their Joining Forces initiative, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden will visit Homestead-Miami Speedway as it hosts the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup finale, the Ford 400, and join NASCAR in honoring America’s troops and military families. NASCAR, Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden will recognize service members and military families from the local community at a special BBQ lunch prior to the race. Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden will also invite a military family to join them as they serve as Grand Marshals for the championship race to lead the pre-race ceremony and offer the most famous words in racing: “Gentlemen, start your engines.”
“We are honored that First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden will be joining us as we crown the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion,” said Homestead-Miami Speedway President Matthew Becherer. “Most importantly, we are pleased that they are both coming to Homestead-Miami Speedway to personally thank the men and women who sacrifice so much to ensure our freedom and allow us to enjoy events like Ford Championship Weekend.”
The crowd will consist of 5,000 active duty and retired military personnel and families and thousands of NASCAR fans. As part of the season-ending NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship race, NASCAR will rally its millions of fans at the speedway and online to serve military families through the holiday season by asking them to visit WWW.NASCAR.COM/Unites and JoiningForces.gov to find service opportunities and ideas to give back to those who serve our country.
At the launch of Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden’s Joining Forces initiative, Walmart and NASCAR developed a Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign designed to recognize military families for the sacrifices they make when our troops are called to action and to inspire customers and fans to recognize and support the needs of military families in their own communities. The PSAs feature NASCAR drivers Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne and Parker Kligerman, are broadcast in 500+ Walmart stores and will air at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The PSA can be found here.
Media interested in covering the military families’ BBQ lunch where Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden will deliver brief remarks along with NASCAR leadership and drivers must RSVP to FirstLadyPress@who.eop.gov by Friday, November 18 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Media interested in covering all other portions of the visit should contact George Stieren at (305) 230-5233 or gstieren@