HAMPTON, Ga. (Aug. 28, 2012) – The NRA American Warrior 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series Race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 1, will honor those who work to protect the freedoms of citizens of the United States. In addition to naming a race for those who serve, the National Rifle Association will host several American heroes, their families and special guests during the race weekend.
Being honored pre-race at the NRA American Warrior 300 are Jason Amerine and Greg Stube. Amerine is a lieutenant colonel from Honolulu, Hawaii, and a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Amerine operated Operational Detachment Alpha 574 in Operation Enduring Freedom, which advised and assisted Hamid Karzai in fomenting a Pashtun tribal revolt that led to Karzai’s rise as Afghanistan’s leader. The team received three Silver Stars and seven Bronze Stars, including five for valor, and all 11 members were awarded Purple Hearts for wounds suffered in combat. Amerine will wave the green flag to get the NRA American Warrior 300 under way.
Greg Stube, a retired member of the U.S. Army Special Forces from Long Beach, Calif., is the son of a career Navy man and enlisted in the U.S. Army Infantry in July 1988. He was selected for the Green Berets in November of 1992 and trained as Special Forces Medical Sergeant, 18D, which included surgery, anesthesia, trauma management, pharmacology, minor dentistry, veterinary subjects and more. This would allow the “A-Team” to function when no doctor would be present. Stube attended Defense Language Training, becoming proficient in Russian, received additional skill training as a Dive Medical Technician, and was a career parachutist. Stube was wounded while serving in combat operations in the Global War on Terror in Afghanistan during Operation Medusa by a remotely detonated IED and enemy fire. He survived multiple wounds to his abdomen, hip and pelvis, a nearly severed leg, and extensive full-thickness burns requiring months of hospitalization and surgeries.
Stube has since retired with 23 years of service and hosts his own television show, Coming Home with Greg Stube, which celebrates the way Americans exercise their freedom in the great outdoors. Stube will be present in victory lane following the NRA American Warrior 300 to present the trophy to the race winner.
Serving as the grand marshals for the NRA American Warrior 300 are the sons and daughters of fallen Navy SEALs Adam Brown, Kevin Houston and Thomas Ratzlaff. Nathan and Savannah Brown, Barrett Sepp and Sophia Ratzlaff, and Michael, Jaina and Ethan Houston will all give drivers the command to start their engines to get the race started. Adam Brown gave his life serving the United States on March 17, 2010, and both Thomas Ratzlaff and Kevin Houston gave their lives in Afghanistan on Aug. 6, 2011, during Extortion 17.
In addition to those mentioned above, the following individuals will be in attendance for the NRA American Warrior 300 as guests of the NRA: Sgt. Joseph Collins (Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office); Eric Blehm (New York Times best-selling author); and Ken Brown (pastor, Hope Chapel).
NASCAR night racing returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway on Labor Day weekend, Aug. 31-Sept. 2, 2012. NRA American Warrior 300 tickets start at $30. Kids 12 and under are admitted free with a paid adult ticket. For more information, call the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (877) 9-AMS-TIX, (770) 946-4211 or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.
