Staff Sgt. Michael Gainey, a decorated war hero from Albemarle, N.C., will be a guest of the #8 U.S. Army/Dale Earnhardt Inc. team for Sunday’s running of the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Gainey, who currently serves in the Army Reserve, was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with Valor for his actions Oct. 22, 2007 in Iraq. Gainey was a gunner in a Humvee when his unit was under attack from sniper fire near Baghdad. Though he was injured with a burned neck from shrapnel, Gainey continued to fight by repelling the enemy and getting his fellow soldiers to safety. He was awarded the Purple Heart for being wounded in combat and the Bronze Star with Valor for his courageous actions under fire. Gainey is now a policeman in Mint Hill, NC. Attending the race with Gainey will be his wife Anne Marie.(US Army Racing PR)(5-25-2008)
