Wounded Service Members Get Good View at NASCAR Event

ATLANTA - Crowds at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend will include a special group getting a penthouse view of NASCAR racing.

Wounded service members came from Fort Gordon, Georgia, to a penthouse suite for a privileged view of the track and a Labor Day weekend of NASCAR racing.

It was the first NASCAR race for Sgt. Wendy Peterson, an Army medic who served in Iraq.

"So far it's great and awesome...A lot of soldiers here, they are just loving it," Peterson said.

The trip for these troops was put together by the "Wounded Warrior Project."

"We're hoping that this weekend is an opportunity for these wonderful young men and women, who have given so much in defense of our country, to get away for a complete weekend to not have to worry about anything, and just have a ball," said volunteer Ric O'Brien.

The Wounded Warrior Project was established in 2003. It's a non-profit group that relies on private donations and corporation sponsors.

Two suites with full catering have been set aside for the wounded warriors.

They'll get closer to the action than most, with pit passes included in the effort to help service members on the road to recovery.

The owner of the penthouse condos donated the space for the event at AMS.

The Wounded Warrior Project expects to entertain about 60 service members at three races this weekend.