CONTACT: For more information contact: Lt. Col. Robert Bullock (cell) 518-248-2155

FOR RELEASE: Saturday, Jan 03, 2009

WHO:

New York Army National Guard Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry from the North Country and Saratoga region will team-up with NASCAR drivers as brakemen for two-man bobsled team competition. The National Guard is an event sponsor this year and a bobsled painted in the colors of the #88 “Guard Car” will be racing. A number of “name” NASCAR drivers will participate

WHAT:

LAKE PLACID, NY-- New York Army National Guard combat veterans will participate in the Bodine NASCAR Bobsled Challenge in Lake Placid as “brakemen” on the sleds. This is the third time NASCAR driver Geoff Bodine has invited military members to participate in his event. New York Army National Guard participation in 4th Annual Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge. Practice runs will take place Saturday morning and afternoon. The actual race will occur on Sunday morning and afternoon.

WHEN:

Saturday, January 3, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. or 3 p.m. Sunday race at 11 a.m

WHERE:

Mt. Van Hoevenberg Olympic Center, 421 Old Military Road, Lake Placid New York, 12946

VISUALS: Bobsled competition practice runs on Saturday and competition on Sunday. Opportunities to talk with National Guard Soldiers participating in the event.

BACKGROUND:

Since 2005 NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and New York State resident Geoff Bodine, has conducted the Bodine Bobsled Challenge at the world famous Mt. Van Hovenberg Olympic Center site. The Challenge involves NASCAR drivers functioning as bobsled drivers and is intended to draw national and international support and attention to U.S. Olympic Bobsled teams. Since the inception of the race, Mr. Bodine has invited military members to participate. In 2006, returning Iraqi War veterans were invited to participate in recognition of their service and sacrifice. New York Army National Guard recruits also participated as the brakeman on the bobsleds in 2008. For more information go to: http://www.bodynbobsled.com/index.php. NOTE: To coordinate interviews with participating National Guard Soldiers, contact New York Air National Guard Lt. Col. Robert Bullock at (cell) 518-248-2155. He will be on site. Media representatives will require Olympic Regional Development Authority Press Credentials to access the location. Contact Stephanie Ryan at the Olympic Regional Development Authority at 518-524-4856 (cell) or e-mail at sryan@orda.org to arrange for press credientials