10/12/2026
🇺🇸🏁 FROM THE FAN ZONE TO VICTORY LANE — THE POWER OF HUMAN CONNECTION! 🏆❤️
What an extraordinary weekend for Check A Vet (CAV) at Charlotte Motor Speedway!
We arrived with a mission: to raise awareness about veteran su***de prevention, educate the public, and encourage meaningful, ongoing connections with the veterans in our lives.
We left with new friendships, unforgettable memories, and a beautiful reminder of exactly why human connection matters.
🇺🇸 HONORING THOSE WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE
We extend our sincere gratitude to Major General Chuck Swannack, U.S. Army (Ret.), Vice President of Armed Forces Affairs for Speedway Motorsports, whose continued support and generosity have helped make Check A Vet’s presence in the Fan Zone possible.
We were also honored to spend time with Geoff Ulrich, Senior Vice President of Consumer Strategy for Speedway Motorsports, and during a Saturday visit with General Swannack.
Special appreciation goes to Keith J. Leman, Director of Photography, whose generosity helped arrange pit access for our CAV representatives, Michael and Kimberly.
Thank you to Paul and the Big Machine Racing team for welcoming them into the No. 48 team’s pit box and sharing an incredible behind-the-scenes racing experience!
🏁 BUT THE MOST MEANINGFUL MOMENT WAS STILL TO COME…
While packing up the Check A Vet display, Michael and Kimberly met Judy Baker of Kannapolis, North Carolina, a devoted NASCAR fan who has loved the sport for decades.
Judy had saved her money to attend the race with a basic admission ticket.
Recognizing her passion for racing, Michael extended a simple invitation: Come experience the race with us!
What followed was nothing short of magical. ❤️
Judy was welcomed into the racing community with warmth and generosity. Her excitement turned to tears of joy as she experienced the sights and sounds of pit road up close.
Chris Sepe with NASCAR Security recognized how much the moment meant to her and personally escorted her to a safe viewing position along pit lane as the green flag waved.
Later, Chris extended another extraordinary invitation — to join the celebration in VICTORY LANE! 🏆
Judy, Michael, and Kimberly were welcomed by crew members, shared in the excitement of the victory celebration, and had the pleasure of meeting Jessica Fickenscher, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Congratulations to Corey Day on the victory! 🏁
But for our CAV team, the greatest victory that evening wasn’t measured in laps or trophies.
It was witnessing the pure joy of a lifelong racing fan whose dream had come true through the kindness of others.
❤️ THIS IS WHAT CONNECTION LOOKS LIKE.
At Check A Vet, we believe meaningful human connection can make a profound difference.
Veteran su***de prevention begins long before a crisis. It begins with relationships, awareness, education, and a willingness to genuinely notice and engage with the people around us.
This weekend reminded us that kindness is contagious and that even the simplest gesture can create an extraordinary impact.
🇺🇸 THANK YOU to General Chuck Swannack, Geoff Ulrich, Keith J. Leman, Paul and Big Machine Racing, Chris Sepe, Jessica Fickenscher, and the entire Charlotte Motor Speedway and NASCAR community for the hospitality and generosity shown to our team.
And a special thank-you to Judy Baker, whose joy reminded us all what these moments are really about.
You don’t have to change the whole world to change someone’s world.
Sometimes all it takes is reaching out, making a connection, and reminding someone that they matter.
That’s the spirit behind Check A Vet.
🇺🇸 CHECK A VET. MAKE THE CONNECTION. HELP SAVE A LIFE.
Help us carry this mission beyond the racetrack!
❤️ Follow Check A Vet
🔁 Share our mission
🇺🇸 Tag a veteran you’re grateful to have in your life
🤝 Make checking on your veteran a regular habit
🔗 https://linktr.ee/checkavet365
We All Know One. 🇺🇸 Preventing Veteran su***de through connection, awareness & action. Check on a Veteran today.
