MAHLE Clevite Inc. will show its appreciation to our country’s military by having 11 Marines as the company’s guests this weekend for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA. The Marines from the 23rd Marine Regiment are based out of nearby San Bruno, CA. They will be treated to a “behind the scenes” tour of the pits and garage area on race day, meet with various NASCAR personalities, and will be in Victory Lane at the race’s conclusion for photographs with the winning driver and team.
Two of the Marines – Major Nathan Fenell from Colorado and Master Sergeant Shawn Stringham from Wyoming – will have a special duty during driver introductions, and will present the $5,000 check for the MAHLE Engine Builder of the Race to #11-Denny Hamlin who will accept on behalf of the Joe Gibbs Racing Engine Shop.
MAHLE Clevite is a longtime NASCAR Partner and sponsors the MAHLE Clevite Engine Builder of the Year Award, which hands out $100,000 at season’s end. As part of the program, a weekly check of $5,000 is given away in pre-race ceremonies at each Sprint Cup Series race. Joining Fenell and Stringham are: Chief Hospital Corpsmen Kevin Avila (California) and Raul Valdez (California); Sergeants Harry Taylay (Missouri), Misael Garcia (California), Victor Perez (California), Timothy Hallisy (California), Jonathan Morris (Oregon), Robert Burke (Delaware); and Corporal Rory Roberts (California). MAHLE Clevite’s dedication to the military parallels Infineon Raceway, which has programs “Tickets For Troops” and the “Sonoma Salutes Our Troops,” both putting the Armed Forces front-and-center at all of its motorsports events.(MAHLE PR)(6-25-2011)
