Kenseth Salutes Injured Marine Sunday

In an effort to salute those who have given so much to protect our freedom, Roush Fenway Racing and driver Matt Kenseth will run a special paint scheme in the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Kenseth’s car will be the No. 17 Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation/Gary Sinise Foundation Ford and will feature a salute to United States Marine Corps Corporal Josh “J.B.” Kerns.

Kerns was a combat engineer with the U.S. Marine Corps during a mine sweep on April 7, 2011 in Afghanistan, during his third tour of duty. An improvised explosive device (IED) detonated nearby, costing Kerns both legs and his right arm.

Almost a year after that fateful day, two-time Daytona 500 champion Kenseth will drive the No. 17 Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers/Gary Sinise Foundation Ford at Martinsville as a tribute to Kerns and the sacrifices he made for this country. As part of their “Building for America’s Bravest” program, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and the Gary Sinise Foundation will build a “smart home” for Kerns in his hometown of Ararat, Virginia; not far from Martinsville Speedway.

As part of the fundraising effort associated with this program, Lionel NASCAR Collectables will create a diecast of the No. 17 Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation/Gary Sinise Foundation Ford, with a large portion of the proceeds going to build Kerns’ new smart home.

“It’s an honor for us to run this paint scheme,” said Kenseth. “We have a lot to be thankful for in this country, and we take a lot for granted on a daily basis. Soldiers like J.B. make sacrifices every day that I don’t think anyone can truly comprehend, so I am grateful for the bravery he has shown. By running this paint scheme, I hope people will support this great organization in order to build J.B. the home he deserves for his service.”

“JB Kerns is a true American hero, and we can never totally repay him for everything that he has done to keep our country free and strong,” said Frank Siller, chairman of The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. “But with the help of wonderful people like Matt Kenseth and organizations such as Roush Fenway Racing, Lionel NASCAR Collectables, Martinsville Speedway and the folks at Goody’s, we can show JB how much we truly value his courage.”