ROSEBURG, Ore. -- A local hero is in the running for naming rights to a large NASCAR event.
Every year, Canadian whisky brand Crown Royal awards one deserving hero the naming rights to one of this summer's biggest NASCAR races - the Brickyard 400 - through their "Your Hero's Name Here" program.
"The race, to be held in Indianapolis on July 24th, will represent the ultimate celebration of heroes including military, firefighters, police officers and first responders and will mark the tenth time Crown Royal has awarded race naming rights to an adult fan," a news release stated.
Former Army Infantryman and community hero Chris Mintz was nominated and chosen as one of five finalists who has the chance of having the famous race named in his honor. If he wins the grand prize, the Brickyard 400 will be renamed the 'Chris Mintz 400 at the Brickyard.'
The company says adult consumers can visit CrownRoyalHeroes.com to vote.
Voting runs through June 9 and the grand prize winner will be announced shortly after.
All five finalists will be flown to Indianapolis to attend the race.
On October 1, 2015 a gunman entered Umpqua Community College and fatally shot an assistant professor and eight students. Mintz, a student at the community college, responded to screams and gun shots coming from an adjacent classroom, using his body to block the connecting door and allowing his class to escape.
He then alerted other students when he was shot five times by the gunman. When medical assistance arrived, Mintz was rushed to Mercy Medical Center where he was told he would have to learn to walk again, but the only thought running through Mintz's mind was his son who was turning six that day.
Chris continues to receive medical treatment and physical therapy for his wounds, but he is back in school at UCC to study marketing and is continuing to work and take care of his son. Although his injuries have disabled him from ever competing again, Mintz continues to train in mixed martial arts.
"I'm just a normal guy who was doing what anyone should," said Mintz.
As a longtime NASCAR lover who hails from Richard Petty's hometown, Mintz says he is looking forward to cheering for Dale Earnhardt Jr. at the "Your Hero's Name Here" 400.
(Photo of Chris Mintz courtesy of Taylor Strategy)
(posted 5/17/16)
