BKR's take on trucks: Checkered Flag Foundation makes a difference

A busy week for Brad Keselowski’s Checkered Flag Foundation will wrap up in style on at Gateway Motorsports Park.

After hosting the first annual Huntsman Shootout on June 8 in Dryden, Mich., to benefit the Fisher House Foundation, Keselowski’s No. 29 Ford F-150 driven by Chase Briscoe will carry his foundation’s colors during the Drivin’ For Linemen 200 on Saturday night.

The Huntsman Shootout raised funds for a new Fisher House to be built in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Fisher House Foundation is best known for a network of comfort homes where military and veterans' families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment. The Ann Arbor facility will benefit families of veterans that are in the care of the local VA hospital near the University of Michigan campus.

"What a phenomenal day we had at The Huntsman Shootout to benefit the building of a Fisher House in Ann Arbor," Keselowski said. "When the Checkered Flag Foundation (CFF) began looking for a new partner to continue to benefit our nation's veterans, we were lucky to have been led to the great people at the Fisher House Foundation. They put 93 cents of every dollar raised back into the foundation and are rated as an A+ charity. This is the most-successful fundraiser conducted by the CFF since its inception in 2010, and knowing that most of the money raised is going directly to the building of the Ann Arbor house is very humbling."

In addition to the Checkered Flag Foundation paint scheme being run in Gateway, both Briscoe and teammate Austin Cindric will be running the names of two veterans and their caregivers above their doors in Saturday’s event. The partnership with Hope for the Warriors allows the foundation to not only honor those who have sacrificed for their country, but also the spouses, family and friends who become caregivers, taking on the role and responsibility of not only caring for themselves and their families, but also providing physical care and/or emotional support to a wounded warrior. Brad Keselowski Racing will host Cindy and Michael Smith Jr., and Melody and Christopher Slusher, and the team will give both families a VIP experience, hopefully ending the night in Victory Lane.

While Keselowski says it’s a pleasure to showcase the Checkered Flag Foundation, the 2012 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion is sensitive to not draw attention to himself, rather the causes his foundation supports.

“I also understand that via the different channels I have with respect to media, corporate sponsors and fans that I have a tremendous opportunity to use my name and brand, and likeness to promote those causes,” Keselowski said. “So in that light I'm happy to see our foundation be a part and to get recognition this weekend at the racetrack. I’m hopeful that it's the message that gets the credit, not necessarily myself. In that regard, I’m looking forward to a big weekend with all those different things going on.”