MATT BRABHAM EXTENDS AMBASSADOR RELATIONSHIP WITH CKFF
Australian racer Matt Brabham has celebrated his second consecutive win in this year’s Stadium Super Trucks Championship with an extension of his ambassador role with the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation which he will represent through his driving exploits on both sides of the Pacific.
The Chris Kyle Frog Foundation was the official partner of PIRTEK Team Murray for the 100th Indianapolis 500 in 2016 through which Brabham and CKFF Executive Director, Taya Kyle, formed a great friendship.
CKFF was formed in 2014 after the tragic death of Chris Kyle who was the subject of the best selling book and movie American Sniper.
Brabham was the standout in last weekend’s Long Beach event with an overall victory that extended his championship lead to 35 points heading into the next round in Perth, West Australia on May 4-6.
Brabham leads the championship on 195 points from Gavin Harlien (160), Robby Gordon (149), Cole Potts (130) and Arie Luyendyk (117).
The Foundation was born from Chris Kyle’s desire to assist active duty service members, veterans and first responder couples, with the idea of the Revitalization Retreats coming from a short stay holiday gifted to Chris and Taya during a troubled period in their marriage amid Chris’ four tours to Iraq.
Taya Kyle was PIRTEK Team Murray’s official ambassador at the 100th Indy 500 – which was the world’s biggest ever one-day sporting event.
The team also created a military pit crew tagged the “CK Crew” which was made-up of military veterans and first responders from across the US and which represented the team in the annual and prestigious TAG Heuer Pit Stop Challenge on the Friday of the Indy 500.
PIRTEK Team Murray hosted almost 500 veterans and first responders and their families at Indianapolis during the month of May in 2016.
Brabham will carry CKFF branding on his helmet and race suit when he races the DeVilbiss entry in the Stadium Super Truck Series in the US and Australia.
Brabham’s relationship with CKFF dovetails into the DeVilbiss team’s major relationship with the US-based Headstrong organization,which provides mental health support for military veterans with a banner of “healing the hidden wounds of war”.
Brabham will also carry the CKFF branding for the PIRTEK Enduro Cup for Supercars where he will drive the Preston Hire Racing Commodore with Lee Holdsworth.
Part of his CKFF commitments will be hosting guests at different tracks during the championship and making guest appearances at selected foundation fundraising initiatives.
The Chris Kyle Frog Foundation, based in Midlothian, Texas is a 501(3)c registered charity. CKFF connects with nominated military and first responder couples to create integrated experiences that allow the couples the opportunities to refresh, rebuild, and reconnect within their marriage.
More information about the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation and its programs can be found at www.chriskylefrogfoundation.or
WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY…
TAYA KYLE
“Our association with PIRTEK Team Murray and Matt (Brabham) at the 2016 Indianapolis 500 is something that changed so many lives,” said Kyle.
“We are delighted to see Matt progressing his racing career in Australia and the US and we could not think of more suitable ambassador for our organisation and we are delighted he accepted our invitation.
“We look forward to building some unique experiences for our foundation recipients around Matt’s racing activities and personal appearances.
“Australia and the US have such a bond when you look at our military history so to have a US-born and Australian-raised young man like Matt flying the CKFF colors in both countries is so appropriate.”
MATT BRABHAM
“Chris Kyle was an incredible man that we learned so much about through the American Sniper book and movie, so to be a representative of one of his legacies is a real honor,” said Brabham.
“We did some amazing things with the CKFF and our military pit crew concept at the Indy 500 and built friendships and shared stories that will last a lifetime.
“Taya (Kyle) is a remarkable human being who has done so much for so many and I look forward to do so much more with her and guests of the CKFF through the year.
“It is terrific that there are so many synergies between the CKFF and Headstrong which has a major relationship with the DeVilbiss Stadium Super Team. Both organisations provide such amazing support for US military veterans.”