Remembering 9/11: NASCAR at Richmond

Friday marks the eighth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and one Nationwide Series team has worked in conjunction with the National September 11 Memorial & Museum to provide a tribute to those whose lives were lost -- and changed -- that day.

Benny Gordon will carry a September 11 Memorial paint scheme on his No. 72 Ford. He approached the September 11 Memorial committee earlier this year and the result was an Aug. 31 trip by Gordon and his team to Manhattan, near Ground Zero, to unveil the car to a group of World Trade Center first responders. They signed the car, which will be displayed this weekend on the Richmond International Raceway midway.

Gordon returned with a flag that flew over Ground Zero. He, retired New York fireman Lt. Mickey Kross, and RIR president Doug Fritz will raise the flag on the infield flagpole at 2 p.m. Thursday. Representatives from the Henrico County, Va., police and fire departments also will be on hand.

The flag was affixed to the "Last Column" when it was returned to the World Trade Center site for permanent installation in the 9/11 Memorial Museum. This massive steel column was covered in tributes from members of the construction trades, rescue personnel, and family members before it was removed from the site, marking the end of the nine-month recovery efforts in May 2002. The "Last Column" was returned to the World Trade Center site on Aug. 24 -- the first artifact moved from conservation to the Museum.

Lt. Kross escaped from the North Tower of the World Trade Center as it collapsed. He spent many months helping with recovery efforts at Ground Zero and is currently working with the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

As part of the patriotic festivities, Lt. Kross, as a representative of the National September 11 Memorial, will lead the grandstands in the Pledge of Allegiance during Friday's pre-race festivities prior to the Virginia 529 College Savings 250.

Joe Daniels, the president of the September 11 Memorial, also will be a guest of Gordon's team at Friday night's Nationwide Series race. The flag will fly until Saturday after the Sprint Cup race.

The September 11 Memorial & Museum has launched a 'Text-to-Donate' program based around the Richmond race. Cellular users can text 'WTC' to 25383 to arrange a $5 donation to support the project.