Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano Spreads Holiday Cheer in Guantanamo Bay.

Earlier this week two of NASCAR’s Young Guns, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano, spread holiday cheer and laughs to the troops and their families at the naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as part of the USO tour. The visit, according to the NASCAR press release, was a way to help boost the morale of the U.S. troops and their families.

This was the first USO tour for the drivers, who are avid supporters of the military community. During the visit, Keselowski and Logano signed hundreds of autographs, ate dinner with the troops, and visited with the sailors, coast guardsmen, and their families. The pair also got to patrol the waters of the Bay with the service members.

“This was a once in a lifetime experience and I am so glad to be a part of it,” said Keselowski. “I hope to go back on another USO Tour. After meeting the men and women in Guantanamo Bay, I cannot imagine the sacrifices and experiences they have to go through during their time there. It was an amazing experience and I am so grateful that I was invited to go.”

After Keselowski broke his ankle in August and won the Good Sam RV Insurance 500 at Pocono Raceway, he got out of the car and paid tribute to the Navy SEALS who had been killed in action that week by saying “I’m no hero. The heroes are the guys that died in Afghanistan this weekend and I want to spend time thinking about them. They were my inspiration this weekend and the things that those guys do. I’m glad that we could win today, but those are the heroes. I just drive race cars for a living.”

Keselowski also started the Checkered Flag Foundation(CFF) in July 2010 to support present military, veterans, first-responders and their families. The foundation has hosted many events with the Wounded Warrior Project, the Armed Forces Foundation, The Paralyzed Veterans of America, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the Detroit F.I.R.E benefit team, and the federal Veterans Administration.

“It was awesome to learn more about Guantanamo Bay and what the mission is down there and how it works,” said Logano. “It was great to meet and talk to the troops, and it was one heck of an experience. We get to see a lot of troops at the race track, but to see them in action and doing their jobs…I am so impressed and have such a high amount of respect for each and every one of them and what they do.”

“NASCAR and its drivers bring excitement to the track week after week and we are honored to have two of NASCAR’s biggest names join us on a USO tour,” said USO President Sloan Gibson. “I can’t think of a better, more suitable place for this tour to bring a touch of home than to NASCAR fans stationed in Guantanamo Bay.

I don’t know who enjoyed the visit more, the troops and their families or the NASCAR drivers who took time out of their off-season to spread some holiday cheer.

As a former military wife, it is great to see so many athletes, musicians, and celebrities team up with the USO. They really do put a smile on the troops and their families faces. You definitely feel like a piece of home has come to visit when they come. They really do care for the troops and their families.

Thank you Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, and NASCAR for teaming up with the USO and spreading some holiday cheer to the troops and their families at Guantanamo Bay. I can’t wait to see what is next for NASCAR and USO.

If you would like to learn more about the USO, please visit http://www.uso.org/

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