Kevin Harvick Inc.’s (KHI) business-to-business partner initiative comes full circle as Rheem Manufacturing and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) team up to co-host a hospitality event Friday night at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway (RIR) to entertain clientele from Rheem and 100 wounded soldiers recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
“I recently had the opportunity to visit Walter Reed,” said KHI co-owner Kevin Harvick. “It was an eye-opening experience. I’m really proud to be associated with such fine organizations that take their time and assets to host some of our countries’ finest men and women at the race track. Some of the guys I met at Walter Reed were big race fans and I’m glad we can make it possible for them to come out and enjoy the excitement at Richmond.”
The hospitality event is also made possible by donations from Longhorn smokeless tobacco and Nationwide Insurance. These organizations have provided everything from items for gift bags to monetary donations to help with transportation and food.
“Co-hosting this event with Rheem, KHI and all the other KHI participating partners is very exciting,” said Kevin Jones, Director of Administrative Operations for VFW. “The VFW is honored to be associated with partners like Rheem and KHI who go that extra mile to payback those who have given so much to defend this great country of ours.”
Rheem will serve as primary sponsor of the No. 33 Rheem Tankless Hot Water Heaven Chevrolet Impala driven by two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Harvick for Friday night’s 250-lap event. Rheem narrowly missed a win with the No. 33 Chevrolet at this event last season, finishing second to race winner Denny Hamlin after leading 98 laps.
“Rheem is honored to be associated with the VFW, its values, and the millions of brave military men and women it represents,” said Ed Raniszeski, Corporate Director of Marketing Communications for Rheem Manufacturing. “We are indeed fortunate that our mutual KHI racing sponsorships brought together two organizations that share the same core values and sense of gratitude for the sacrifices made by our military. We are so grateful to the VFW for giving Rheem the opportunity to say a very sincere and humble ‘Thank You and God Bless You’ to all veterans who have served our country and protected our American way of life. It is a true honor for Rheem, KHI, and our VFW partners to share our Rheem VIP Racing Experience at the Richmond International Raceway with many of our wounded military heroes recovering at Walter Reed Medical Center.”
The hospitality event will feature appearances by more than a dozen Nationwide Series drivers, including Eric McClure, Brad Keselowski, Scott Wimmer, Todd Bodine, and Cale Gale, as well as NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star Ryan Newman and team owners DeLana Harvick and Richard Childress.