MTSU Daniels Center, Nashville Superspeedway Team Up To Honor Veterans

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Nashville Superspeedway and the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center at Middle Tennessee State University announced a partnership to honor active-duty troops and assist student veterans as they seek educational and employment opportunities.

The partnership will kick off with the 2022 NASCAR race weekend, beginning Friday, June 24, with the Rackley Roofing 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, and will extend throughout the year through joint events and activities.

“It was important to us that we establish a true win-win relationship, benefitting not only the Daniels Center, but also providing support, visibility and opportunities for academic programs that connect with the needs of the Superspeedway,” MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee says. “In turn, we hope to support Erik’s efforts to expand the Superspeedway as a venue, not only for these premiere NASCAR races, but for other events beyond race weekend.”

Rackley Roofing, one of Tennessee’s leading industrial and commercial roofing contractors and title sponsor of the June 24 truck race, will also be lending support and visibility to the Daniels Center’s efforts to connect graduating student veterans with employment opportunities in its company.

“It is only natural that Nashville Superspeedway and Middle Tennessee State University would forge a strong partnership,” says Nashville Superspeedway President Erik Moses. “We share the goal of building up Middle Tennessee as a regional destination, whether it’s through racing and entertainment options or via educational programs.”

Additionally, Nashville Superspeedway will allow MTSU’s students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters to purchase discounted tickets to the Rackley Roofing 200, with a portion of the ticket proceeds to support the Daniels Center. Curtis Sutton, owner and CEO of Rackley Roofing, said they will also match the donation total generated by the sale of the discounted tickets. Tickets can be purchased at www.mtsu.edu/superspeedway.com.

Both Moses and Sutton have visited the MTSU campus and toured the Daniels Center at the invitation of retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Huber, MTSU’s senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives. Huber founded the center in 2015 and led the drive to name it after its lead patrons, country music legend Charlie Daniels and his wife, Hazel. Daniels remained an avid support of the center up until his death in the summer of 2020.

“I was fortunate to tour MTSU recently and was excited to learn about its recent growth, both through new projects and planned upgrades for students and faculty,” says Moses. “It reminded me of the renewal and growth that we’ve seen at Nashville Superspeedway as we get set to welcome the best and brightest of NASCAR back to the Superspeedway in a few days.”

He continues, “Our team was particularly impressed by the Daniels Center’s mission of helping veterans and their causes. Our company, Speedway Motorsports, has a rich history of supporting our military, and we are confident that this partnership will provide us with additional ways to strengthen the Superspeedway’s relationship with our military families across the state.”

MTSU’s Army ROTC Color Guard will present the colors before the start of the nationally televised Ally 400 on Sunday, June 26, and the Daniels Center will have a presence in the Superspeedway’s FanZone throughout the racing weekend. Huber will advise Moses on ways the Superspeedway can honor veterans and active-duty troops during the race weekend.

Steven Boero
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