By Elton Johnson Jr.
For the first time in NASCAR’s history, a racing team is cooperating with a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB). This unique racing team is comprised of a husband-wife-owned professional racing team cooperating with a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) SDVOB member firm to honor American veterans.
Team AmeriVet is led by William Auchmoody and his wife, Rebecca Auchmoody. William began his connection to NASCAR at 14 years of age as a crew member for the #13 Linro Motorsports car. He became a championship-winning driver on both asphalt and dirt tracks until he transitioned into motorsports management with teams in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck and NASCAR Cup Series. As the co-owner of Team AmeriVet, Rebecca contributes to the team’s leadership, strategic thinking and overall planning.
Ty Dillon, a talented driver with a proven track record in NASCAR, completes the team. Dillon’s skills and experience have made him an excellent choice to make Team AmeriVet a top competitor in the NASCAR Cup Series. In 2024, Dillon drove the team’s No. 50 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. He is a four-time NASCAR winner, the 2011 ARCA Racing Series Champion and the 2012 Sunoco Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Truck Series. He won at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in July 2014.
The Camaro Dillon drives on behalf of AmeriVet was designed by Chevrolet engineers who had high-speed races and other aggressive endeavors in mind. One principal feature of the vehicle is that it was developed as an aerodynamic package that minimizes lift without impacting drag. The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 gets its name from the aluminum 427-cubic-inch engine designed for Can-Am racing in the 1960s.
Team AmeriVet embarked on its NASCAR Cup Series journey with a partial schedule in 2024, which laid the groundwork for a full-time campaign in 2025. They entered their first NASCAR race with the Coca-Cola 600 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, on May 26, 2024. With Dillon as their driver, Team AmeriVet finished in 36th place. This year, the team hopes to continue to make a name for themselves both on the track and as supporters of the veteran community.
Team AmeriVet uses its presence on the track to honor veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. In May 2024, as part of NASCAR’s 600 Miles of Remembrance Program, Team AmeriVet honored two Army veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice: Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Michael J. McMahon and Major (MAJ) Frank Galligan, Jr. LTC McMahon was a West Point graduate. He died in an aircraft crash in Afghanistan. MAJ Galligan was also a West Point graduate. He was a Vietnam vet. He died in a helicopter crash at Fort Hood, Texas. Hopefully, Team AmeriVet will make a long-term tradition of continuing to honor American veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
In addition to honoring veterans, Team AmeriVet is making a strong and earnest effort to support veterans by partnering with ForgiveCo, PBC, Inc. This public benefit corporation targets forgiveness of any debts of necessity for individuals in hardship because of debt. Team AmeriVet has launched its groundbreaking 50 Vets a Week Program through this partnership (50vetsaweek.com). This initiative aims to address the urgent financial needs of veterans across the country by offering targeted debt relief to 50 veterans each week throughout the 2025 NASCAR season. Team AmeriVet is the only competing NASCAR racing team providing this much support for veterans. In 2024, ForgiveCo launched its Three Million Dollar Veteran Debt Relief Program for the holiday season in partnership with Verizon Communications, Inc., the largest wireless carrier in the US.
The FINRA member cooperating with Team AmeriVet, is AmeriVet Securities, Inc., the second oldest SDVOB securities firm. The company was founded by three Army paratroopers who were Army Reservists. AmeriVet Securities, Inc. is one of only seven FINRA members certified as an SDVOB out of 3,000+ FINRA members. Regarding its support of the veteran community, AmeriVet Securities, Inc. has in place the most proactive and efficient Veteran Engagement Program (VEP) in the U.S. securities industry. Its Military Veteran Intern Program (MVIP) is the best intern program for veterans in the industry. AmeriVet Securities, Inc., is a seven time recipient of the prestigious Department of Labor HIRE Vets Medallion award.
Elton Johnson, Jr., is a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Retired Reserve. He was AmeriVet Securities, Inc.’s founder and is now the Non-Executive Chairman.
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