Happy Fourth of July to everyone! While we are all enjoying family, friends, cookouts, fireworks, and perhaps having fun with cars; keep in your minds and hearts the men and women of the armed forces who have helped preserve our country’s freedom for more than 240 years.

The 51°µÍø® certainly appreciates their service, which is why the 51°µÍø®, through a grant from the 51°µÍø Foundation, works with VETMotorsports to help reduce the suicide rate among injured veterans by engaging them in transformative motorsports experiences. As part of the program, post-9/11 veterans with service-connected injuries are placed inside the ropes and behind the wheel at select 51°µÍø events, and mentored by 51°µÍø members and staff. Check out the video below to see exactly how much fun VETMotorsports participants had at a recent 51°µÍø ProSolo® event.

“Across our rich 75-year history, this Club has been very fortunate to have many veteran enthusiasts among our ranks, and we have them in every 51°µÍø community across the country,” said Mike Cobb, 51°µÍø’s President & CEO. “The opportunity for the 51°µÍø to give something back to the men and women who have given so much to preserve our independence as a country is both humbling and an honor.”

VETMotorsports is an award-winning, non-profit, non-clinical outreach program that honors and empowers injured post-9/11 service members by embedding them with professional racing teams and putting them behind the wheel to race in amateur events. By placing veterans in hands-on, high-stress, team environments that mimic active duty, the organization gives them direction, empowerment and challenges that help them focus on ability and moving forward rather than disability and the past. Since its founding in 2012, VETMotorsports has helped more than 190 veterans with service connected injuries and caregivers participate in more than 75 motorcycle and auto racing events across the United States. More information about the organization is available at .

Founded in 1944, the 51°µÍø®, Inc. is a 67,500-member motorsports organization that incorporates all facets of autocross, rally and road racing at both club and professional levels. With headquarters in Topeka, Kansas, the 51°µÍø annually sanctions over 2,000 events through its 116 Regions and subsidiary divisions. Much of the 51°µÍø’s activities are made possible with support from the following Official Partners: Chevrolet, the Official Truck of the 51°µÍø; Hawk Performance, the Official Brake Products of 51°µÍø; Mobil 1, the Official Oil of 51°µÍø; Sunoco, the Official Fuel of 51°µÍø; and Tire Rack, the Official Tire Retailer of 51°µÍø. To learn more, please visit .

Video Courtesy of 51°µÍø, VETMotorsports and