3/19/2013 Upper Arlington, Ohio – The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) Alumni crews enjoyed a successful weekend at Daytona International Speedway. A total of four disabled combat veterans were assigned between two teams in the AMA Pro Racing Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson class. Team Ohio Racing / Veterans Empowered Through Motorsports helped facilitate the experience with the #3 Motolist.com entry of Richard Barnett and the #70 James Gang/Hoban Brothers entry of Paul James. The combat veterans were local area WWP Alumni and assisted as needed throughout the event.
Paul Quast, a veteran of 4 tours of Afghanistan and Iraq with the 101st airborne, had this say about his experience with the James Gang/Hoban Brothers team “Paul (James) went out of his way to ensure that we had a great experience, from working on his bike to taking us to the flat track races. I cannot say enough about Paul and the James Gang/Hoban Brothers team. They are great people I wish there was a way to thank them for what they did.”
Assisting Quast was Sgt Chad Clickner, a USMC combat veteran. Echoing Quast’s comments, Clickner added “I spent a decade of my life serving in the Marine Corps with people that influenced my life, giving me confidence and a sense of pride to serve with them. This past weekend, I spent time working with the James Gang/Hoban Brother race team, and that gave me the same feeling of confidence as a wounded warrior and that I can still do great things and make a difference”
Paul James, Team Owner, #70, James Gang/Hoban Brothers Racing (16th) “We had a fantastic experience working with our Wounded Warrior Project crew at Daytona. Paul (Quast) and Chad fit right in on the team and jumped in and worked hard to help us prepare our XR1200 for the race. For as smooth as it all went, it felt like we’d been teammates working side by side for a long time. A special thank you to Chad and Paul, not only for working with us at Daytona, but for your service to our country.”
“Being on the Motolist.com Team was an event that I will never forget” stated Michael “Mick” (Turtle) Lum, a USMC veteran and WWP Peer Mentor. “This experience is the one that is going to be on the best sellers list thus far me. I was so honored being selected to be part of this encounter, but this can only be done is with support from race teams”
Richard Barnett, Team Owner, #3, Motorlist.com (21st) “Team Motolist.com wishes to thank the Wounded Warriors for their invaluable teamwork at Daytona. Our Warrior crew and team had my back and gave me a fast and safe race bike. I can’t wait to work with them again. They are truly a top-notch group of guys. Also, thanks to Pete Cline from Team Ohio Racing for organizing the effort.”
About Team Ohio Racing’s / Veterans Empowered Through Motorsports: Team Ohio Racing is the first motorsports team to fully integrate disabled veterans into an active race team environment. By working with the Wounded Warrior Project, local alumni-warriors are incorporated into their AMA Pro Racing Vance & Hines XR1200 team. Team Ohio Racing delivers respect to the WWP mission by working with WWP-Alumni members, allowing them to focus on their abilities instead of disabilities, and to heal and empower through motorsports.
Team Ohio Racing supporters are: Drippin’Wet, Ellanet, Maverick Moto Media, NEXX Helmets, Midwest Motorcyclist, Motion Pro, Motogearu.com, Optimum Print Solutions, Portfolio Creative, REV’IT! Sport USA, Sidi, Silkolene, Wounded Warrior Project Alumni crew, XR1200 Owners Group.
To learn more about Team Ohio Racing, visit them on the web at www.tor-vetm.org
