By Susan Arnold
PERRIS, Calif. (April 8, 2014) — Motter Motorsports and associate sponsor HE&M Saw will host veterans from Workshops for Warriors at the World of Outlaws So Cal Showdown at Perris Auto Speedway Saturday, April 12.
Workshops for Warriors is a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to training, certifying, and placing veterans of the U.S. Armed Services in manufacturing careers. HE&M Saw supports Workshops for Warriors and has donated HEMSAW metal cutting band saws to the vocational training program.
“Workshops for Warriors has been very successful in their mission and we are privileged to help support our vets,” said Bob Foster, HE&M Saw’s service manager. “These Americans have served their country and it is rewarding to be involved with a program that helps those who have served our country learn a trade and give them an opportunity to find employment and contribute to the community.”
To date, Workshops for Warriors has had 96 veterans graduate with 100 percent job placement. There are currently 276 vets in training. You can visit their website at www.wfwusa.org for more information.
“To help draw attention to this worthwhile program and to honor the vets that will be joining us at Perris, we will be displaying the Workshops for Warriors logo on our car and will give them name entitlement,” said team owner Dan Motter. “Our car will be known as the Motter Equipment HE&M Saw Workshops for Warriors Beltline Body Shop 71M .”
Three U.S. Marine Corps vets and one United States Navy Retired veteran will have the opportunity to visit with the Motter team and driver Joey Saldana.
Lyle Palm, 54, United States Navy Retired, is Dean of welding and fabrication at Workshops for Warriors. James Kench III, 23, and Paul Filler, 24 are instructors at the San Diego organization and Mike Casey, 23, who stepped on an IED while on patrol in Afghanistan, is a teacher’s assistant.
“These hard working men will have a backstage pass to watch our team in the heat of our sprint car battle,” said driver Joey Saldana. “We want to make them proud and we will pour every ounce of effort into our performance in Perris to help honor them for their contributions to our country. After all, they fought for our freedom, and because of the men and women in the U.S. Armed Services, we are able to enjoy doing the things we love to do.”
Saldana drove to victory at Perris Auto Speedway in 2012. Last year he was the No. 2 qualifier and finished sixth in the A-Main.
“It would be a perfect Hollywood script ending to win the race and have the vets celebrate with us in victory circle,” said a determined Saldana. “I’m going for the Hollywood ending.”