9/11 Memorial Commemorative Car

On August 31, 2009 the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and the North South Motorsports team unveiled a car custom-designed to commemorate 9/11 on September 11, 2009 at the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway. The car was unveiled by 9/11 Memorial President Joe Daniels, Jim O’Connell, Vice President for NASCAR Corporate Marketing, North South Motorsports co-owner and driver Benny Gordon, 9/11 Memorial Board Member and family member Anthoula Katsimatides, and FDNY Lieutenant (Ret.) and 9/11 First Responder and Survivor Mickey Kross at the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site across from the World Trade Center.

North South Motorsports offered to design the car as a way to help raise awareness about the 9/11 Memorial & Museum currently under construction at the World Trade Center site.

Benny Gordon, co-owner and driver for the North South Motorsports team, will race the car in Richmond, VA. . The car, a 2009 Ford Fusion, is sponsored by Samuel & Sons Metals Company and Varischetti & Sons, Inc. Frank Varischetti is also an owner of the NASCAR Nationwide team. 

Click here to view     images of the 9/11     Commemorative Car

The 9/11 commemorative car is black, blue, and white, with patriotic stars and stripes and features a new logo for the 9/11 Memorial.  The phrase “always remember” is inscribed on the car.  At the event, the car was unloaded from a 53’ hauler that houses race cars and has full race shop capabilities. 

First responders from the New York Police and Fire Departments and the Port Authority Police Department, along with Memorial construction workers signed the hood of the commemorative car as a show of their support for the team.

On behalf of the 9/11 Memorial, FDNY Lieutenant (Ret.) and 9/11 First Responder and Survivor Mickey Kross will present the Richmond International Raceway on September 11, 2009  with an American flag that was flown over Ground Zero to fly at the track for the race. Kross will also lead the Pledge of Allegiance to open the race.  On September 11, 2001, Kross was a New York City firefighter with Engine Company 16, Ladder 7 and responded to the call that a plane had hit the World Trade Center.  He was one of 14 people trapped within a staircase to survive the collapse of the North Tower.

Benny Gordon’s 99-race career in the USAR Pro Cup Series has many milestones: 30 wins, 59 Top Five’s, 72 Top Ten’s, 20 pole awards, and 5,298 Laps Led.  He was the champion of the 2008 USAR Pro Cup Series, amassing 6 wins in 13 races.  At the end of the 2008 season, the National Speed Sport News gave Gordon a Power Ranking of 7th in a world ranking of all professional drivers from various forms of racing, including F1, IRL, World Rally, World of Outlaws, NHRA Drag Racing and NASCAR.  In the 2008 season, Gordon achieved one of the most difficult stats when he completed every single available lap in the USAR Pro Cup Series on the lead lap.  He is also the USAR Pro Cup Champion (2005) and Rookie of the Year (2003). More information can be found at http://www.bennygordon.us/