Chicagoland Speedway Honors Local Civilian Volunteer

During what promises to be the biggest military and veteran party of the year, Chicagoland Speedway
is honoring Debbie Bennett, (known by many as Debbie Smothers), for her tireless efforts with two nonprofits, Operation Care Package and Wreaths Across America.

She will receive the award during an Honor Ceremony, held at Champion's Park at Chicagoland Speedway Saturday, June 30, at 10 a.m., which is NASCAR weekend. The Honor Ceremony is one of a number of events during the inaugural Stars & Stripes weekend, which was created since NASCAR race moved from
September to July 1.

Also during the Honor Ceremony, Gold Star families will be Chicagoland Speedway guests as the names of of the Illinois Killed in Action appear on screen as the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery John Whiteside Memorial Squad renders honors with a riffle salute and "Taps." A 1943 Aeronca L3 Liaisance plane will flyover the ceremony.

In 2003, Bennett co-founded Operation Care Package, a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that has gathered, packed and shipped over 20,000 boxes to deployed troops containing all manner of
donations — from golf clubs and DVDs, to socks, toothbrushes and beef jerky.

Bennett also serves as the local coordinator for the national nonprofit Wreaths Across America.

Bennett orchestrates a monumental volunteer effort bringing tens of thousands of wreaths across country on semi-tractor trailers, unloaded and reloaded by Will County Farm Bureau members onto livestock trailers
and delivered to the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.

Thousandsof volunteers descend on the cemetery on a single December day each year to unload boxes, unpack wreaths, and place them on specific sections within the cemetery. Though fundraising and awareness increases each year, not all graves receive a wreath. It is Bennett’s extreme organization and leadership that ensures that every family that orders a wreath receives one on the correct grave.

When Bennett was told she is being honored, she responded humbly.

“I don’t need that,” Bennett said. “There are so many other people that are deserving.”

ARCA Racing Series driver Jesse Iwuji, a Surface Warfare Officer in the NAVY Reserves and former track and football player at the United States Naval Academy, will serve as our Stars and Stripes ambassador
throughout the weekend. Iwuji, the current two-time NASCAR Diversity Driver of the Year will be busy on and off the track engaging with fans at our various military-themed events around the property, including the
award presentation to Bennett.

As thanks to those who volunteer with Bennett, and other active military and veteran organizations,
Chicagoland Speedway is offering greatly discounted ticket packages to those who use the code MILITARYFRIENDS18, or click here for a direct link.