RICHMOND – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has partnered with Richmond International Raceway (RIR) for the second year in a row to promote greater access and awareness to VA benefits and services at NASCAR weekend — today and tomorrow in Richmond.
“From our ongoing experience, innovative partnerships like this with NASCAR and RIR create important new access points to vital VA benefits and services,” said VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald. “We value this opportunity to reach Veterans and their families who may not realize they are eligible for VA benefits and services or those who may not know where to go to access this support.”
VA will honor past and present military members during Pole Qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. VA’s Mobile Vet Center will be on site with a team of health and benefits experts who can answer Veterans’ questions, share information and help Veterans and family members access VA benefits and services.
“Richmond International Raceway is honored to be partnering with VA again this year,” said Richmond International Raceway President Dennis Bickmeier. “NASCAR, being the patriotic sport that it is, supporting those who are currently serving and the Veterans that have served is important to RIR. We are proud to be a part of such an impactful partnership with the VA to set the field for the Federated Auto Parts 400.”
As part of the collaboration, RIR will also offer a special ticket price for Veterans and their families for the Virginia529 College Savings Plan 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race, as well as their traditional military appreciation program discount for the Federated Auto Parts 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.
Prior to the NASCAR weekend, VA and RIR will also hold a “Driving VA Benefits and Services Home” event at the Richmond VA Medical Center featuring NASCAR drivers, RIR representatives, VA benefits and services outreach staff and a NASCAR Sprint Cup racecar.
These outreach activities are part of the larger MyVA initiative, which is dedicated to improving the Veteran experience and increasing customer service access points in communities where Veterans reside. As the number one spectator sport in the country, NASCAR has more than 75 million race fans, one third of whom are active duty Servicemembers or Veterans.
In addition to the upcoming RIR activities, VA has participated in six other NASCAR events and will conduct outreach at two more during the remaining 2016 race season. VA’s health and benefits experts will be on site to bring information about VA benefits and services directly into the community. Additional events are scheduled at Dover International Speedway (Sept. 30-Oct. 2) and Phoenix International Raceway (Nov. 11-13).
For more information about today’s Pole Day event, visit www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/nascar-outreach.asp.
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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.
Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.
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