Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Z-Line Designs/Operation Helmet Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, finished second in the 2007 Nationwide Series race, but has crashed out of the last two races at Las Vegas. While Busch looks to find victory lane, his car will also sport the logo of Operation Helmet, a 100 percent volunteer, non-partisan charitable organization headquartered in Montgomery, Texas, that provides helmet upgrade kits free of charge to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Operation Helmet, which was also on the #18 during several races during 2009, is led by Dr. Bob Meadors, whose tireless efforts have led to more than 47,000 helmet upgrade kits being distributed to U.S. military personnel since 2004. The upgrade kits prevent traumatic head and brain injuries to soldiers by focusing on three core elements protection, comfort and stability. Shock-absorbing pads keep the helmet from slapping the skull when hit with a blast or other impact, thereby decreasing the chances of brain injuries. Most importantly, the upgrade kit allows a helmet to stay on a soldier’s head longer, more often and in one place.(JGR PR)(2-24-2010)
