Budweiser and NASCAR’s four-time Most Popular Driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., are saluting the troops this NASCAR season with two military-themed paint schemes and collectible diecasts, the proceeds from which will provide college educations for surviving dependents of fallen Special Operations soldiers. The cars debuted during a special “One Night Stand with Dale Earnhardt Jr.” event held for more than 1000 fans and many area-based troops last night at the Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie.

Budweiser’s brown and beige Desert Camo #8 Chevy will race Memorial Day weekend during the Coca-Cola 600 on May 27 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The red, white and blue Stars & Stripes car will run in honor of Independence Day at the Pepsi 400 on July 7 at Daytona International Speedway.

Budweiser will donate proceeds from the sale of the two collectible diecast car models to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF), which provides full-ride college scholarships to surviving dependents of Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special operations personnel killed in combat or training missions, and immediate financial assistance to special operations personnel severely wounded in the global war on terror. More than 700 dependents currently benefit from the efforts of the SOWF.

“Budweiser, Dale Jr. and fans of the #8 Chevy are proud to align with the Special Operations Warrior Foundation to help the families of our fallen soldiers and draw attention to their needs,” said Randall Blackford, Director of Budweiser Marketing, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. “Anheuser-Busch has supported our nation’s military and their families for more than 150 years, and we felt that a program such as this would receive great support from our friends in the NASCAR nation.”