At the NASCAR Sprint Cup race night race at Bristol, NASCAR star Greg Biffle will be driving a No. 16 3M Ford Fusion with a painted design to honor 3M’s Hire Our Heroes campaign.
Biffle’s Fusion will feature a paint scheme created by renowned car designer Chip Foose to honor the veterans recognized through the 3M Hire Our Heroes program in 2014. To date, some 55 military members and their families have received tool grants and scholarships through the program, totaling some $250,000. This is the second year that the 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division has led the 3M Hire Our Heroes program and run a special paint scheme with Chip Foose.
For the Bristol race, Biffle’s hood design reflects the transition of a soldier in camouflage to a collision industry professional. The camouflage is peeling away to showcase the stars and stripes underneath. On the hood, a saluting soldier is flanked by two auto body repairers – a painter and a welder.
“It’s an honor to drive a car that recognizes the many contributions of our country’s military members while they were on active duty, and also support a program that enables them to learn new skills that translate to careers in the collision industry now that they are back home,” said Biffle. “And, it’s incredible to race a car with a paint scheme designed by Chip Foose – one of my automotive heroes.”
Added Foose, “For the August Bristol race, I was lucky to be able to design the 3M Hire Our Heroes Ford Fusion. The design was inspired by the fact that every soldier wears the camouflage uniform, but underneath that uniform is the heart of an American. The car recognizes that – and as the camo is being torn off, it exposes the red, white and blue. We’re proud of the 3M Hire Our Heroes tool grant recipients and look forward to having them become members of the collision repair industry.”
The 3M Hire Our Heroes campaign supports returning veterans and their families who have chosen to pursue careers in the collision repair industry. It raises funds throughout the year to help offset the costs of tuition, books, tools and equipment for returning veterans and their families.
Since the program was launched in late 2012, nearly 115 grant winners, including military members and family members of veterans, were selected from applicants all across the U.S. Each recipient received a financial grant to purchase tools and equipment needed to start their career in collision repair.
3M partnered with the Collision Repair Education Foundation to award and administer the grants for these deserving applicants. The grants from 3M Hire Our Heroes total some $500,000.
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