CJM Racing's sponsor to honor Carnegie recipient

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- America's Incredible Pizza Co., sponsor of the No. 11 Nationwide Series car driven by Scott Lagasse Jr., is all about incredible things in 2009. This season the pizza company would like to recognize incredible people that have done incredible acts.

The "Incredible Heroes Program" is the brainchild of Rick Barsness, founder and CEO of America's Incredible Pizza Co. Barsness' idea was simply this: Find hometown heroes in the cities where the Nationwide Series races, and show them how incredible they really are. Almost immediately the search began to find heroes across the country.

"There are so many incredible people out there doing wonderful things everyday that you never hear about. We wanted to help get those stories out and recognize these people," Barsness said.

The Nationwide Series returns to action at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday. While at the "World's Fastest Half-Mile", America's Incredible Pizza Co. and CJM Racing will honor Carnegie Medal recipient Lindsey Witherspoon. When Witherspoon was 18, she risked her life to save a woman drowning in her car in Fort Patrick Henry Lake on Dec. 26, 2007.

Witherspoon, a trained lifeguard, noticed a vehicle submerged underwater and sprung into action. She jumped into the freezing cold lake and pulled a woman to safety. The car had veered into the lake, leaving the driver trapped behind the wheel of her vehicle.

For her heroic effort, Tennessee congressman David Davis honored Witherspoon with a Carnegie Medal. The medal is awarded throughout the United States and Canada to those who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of others. So far, 9,224 people have received the heroic honor since 1904. Witherspoon was one of 73 Carnegie medalists being recognized in 2008 for a heroic deed.

Witherspoon and her mother, Kim, will be guests of CJM Racing at Bristol where they will meet Scott Lagasse Jr., driver of the No. 11 Toyota, and get a behind-the-scenes look at the Scotts Turf Builder 300.

The Incredible Heroes campaign will run throughout the 2009 Nationwide Series season. If you know of an Incredible Hero and would like to nominate him or her please e-mail heroes@incrediblepizza.com for consideration.