Though July 4th has come and gone, the Warsaw-based ML Motorsports team will still be in a patriotic mood tonight at Daytona International Speedway. The local stock car team’s No. 70 Chevy will honor the organization Wishes For Our Heroes with a red, white and blue paint scheme during tonight’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race. ML Motorsports, owned by and named for Winona Lake resident Mary Louise Miller, has been associated with the Indianapolis-based veterans organization since April. The No. 70 car, driven by 20-year-old Pensacola, Fla. native Johanna Long, carried similar colors during the Nationwide Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway over Memorial Day weekend. “It’s an honor and a privilege to be associated with Wishes For Our Heroes,” said Billy Hutchinson of ML Motorsports. “The organization is based in Indianapolis, which means people right here in Indiana are doing some really neat things to help out veterans. “This group raises donations and helps grant wishes for injured soldiers, whether it be helping send them on a vacation or helping them with grocery bills and things like that,” continued Hutchinson. “We’ve hosted soldiers at the track with us at a number of races this season, and it’s just a real humbling experience to hear their stories and spend time with them.” ML Motorsports crew member Jeremy Marsh said being around the soldiers, interacting with them and hearing their stories, puts things in perspective. “It’s a real eye-opener,” said Marsh. “These guys have given of themselves to help keep us free. We’re just out there racing. Don’t get me wrong, that’s our job, and it’s hard and it’s hot outside, but these guys have slept in the desert. They’ve been away from their families. They’ve come home injured. One guy we met, we call him Hoss, he lost one of his legs. So, yeah, being around them really puts things in perspective. I’ve heard the guys’ stories, and I’ve never heard any of them complain.” According to the website wishesforourheroes.org the organization was founded in November of 2009 and more than 1,000 wishes have been granted. The website says Wishes For Our Heroes is a national 501(c)(3) dedicated to assisting the men and women of the United States active-duty military. ML Motorsports will host six soldiers at tonight’s race at Daytona. “We’ve really become close with the people involved with this organization,” said Hutchinson. “The soldiers really enjoy being at the track, and the guys on our team really enjoy spending time with them. They’ve really become part of the ML family.” As a token of appreciation, the organization has presented the ML Motorsports crew with service coins. Miller and Long were presented Army jackets with their names on them at the Nationwide Series race in Michigan. Also at the race in Michigan, a soldier named Alton “Bo” Brister was able to meet Biomet co-founder Dane Miller. Brister’s shoulder was severly injured in the war and required medical implants. According to Hutchinson, Brister said he was honored not only to be at the track with the team, but also to meet Dane Miller, who has done so much in the world of medical implants. “To see Dane and Bo talking at Michigan was a real treat,” said Hutchinson. “Bo said he had to have titanium parts put in his shoulder, and when he found out Dane was the pioneer of titanium, he really got excited and wanted to meet him. Everything about being associated with Wishes For Our Heroes has been amazing. What these soldiers have done for us, what they’ve sacrificed, and to never complain, it’s hard to put into words.” Long is currently 18th in the Nationwide Series driver standings. She is in her first season with ML Motorsports. Tonight’s race will air live on ESPN at 7:30 p.m.
