KERNERSVILLE, N.C. — After 15 months in Iraq, Fort Bragg soldier Sgt. 1st Class Damon (Shaun) Woolever is packing his bags again, but this time it will be for fun.
Shaun is the grand-prize winner of a 3-day Memorial Weekend NASCAR race at Lowe’s Speedway in Charlotte N.C., courtesy of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Camping World’s promotional partnership with Kevin Harvick, Inc. (KHI).
Shaun, 42, won the prize during the Veteran of Foreign Wars “Celebration for Our Heroes” troop-support special event, held March 27 in Kernersville, N.C., KHI headquarters. Besides race tickets and VIP treatment, Shaun’s prize includes luxury accommodations in one of Camping World’s recreational vehicles. See related story.
The 24-year career soldier, who is a forward-support platoon leader for the 2-325 Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, had just returned from his second tour in Iraq days before the event. The Atlanta, Georgia, native said his family was ecstatic about his grand prize since NASCAR is a family affair for his wife, Carol Ann, his 11-year old son, Gus, and his 16-year old daughter, Nicole.
“It’s like a red-neck dream come true,” he said, especially since the trip actually will be a triple birthday celebration. “My birthday is in May, my son’s birthday is three days after that, and my wife’s birthday is three days after my son’s. “
Besides the NASCAR experience, Shaun and his family will be living it up in style in one of Camping World’s recreational vehicles, accommodations, he said, that mesh perfect with the Woolever family's love of camping.
"Camping brought us together as a young family,” he said, adding that his family goes camping twice a year. “I just can’t think Camping World enough for this experience. It’s fantastic.”
As united as they are for NASCAR, there are family differences when it comes to favorite drivers, although VFW’s NASCAR experience with Kevin Harvick, Inc. somewhat swayed a change of heart from his son:
“Before my 15-month deployment, my son was a Kasey Kahne fan,” he said. “Now I expect he will be rooting for Kevin.”
Shaun also praised the VFW for the combat organization’s troop-support event, as well as the VFW’s new partnership with KHI, INC and NASCAR.
“People don’t understand what the VFW is all about,” he said. “They don’t realize it’s not about veterans sitting around telling war stories. NASCAR fans are very patriotic, so this will help them get to know about the VFW and what it the VFW does. It’s definitely a good match.”