Retired Marine Sergeant Jeff Kyle thought he was just going to a Texas Rangers game. He had been invited to throw out the honorary first pitch of the game, but he also had another surprise coming: in front of 29,000 fans, he found out that he was the winner of Crown Royal “Your Hero’s Name Here” program, with his name being incorporated into the official race title, as the Crown Royal Presents the Jeff Kyle 400 at the Brickyard.
Kyle’s name isn’t the only thing that race fans will learn about, though. They will get to hear about why he is a hero worth honoring.
Jeff Kyle is the brother of “American Sniper” Chris Kyle, and like his brother, he served in the military. He deployed multiple times as a Marine to Iraq and Africa, receiving the Navy Achievement Medal. After leaving the military, he worked tirelessly to serve veterans by serving multiple veterans charities. He serves as a board member with the Guardians For Heroes foundation, which provides free in-home fitness equipment, health club memberships, personal training, and more to disabled veterans, Gold Star families, and those suffering post-traumatic stress after a combat deployment. He also serves a large role with American Valor, which runs the benefit to honor his brother, Chris Kyle. He is also the founder of the Texas Elite Tactical Academy, where people can be trained in firearm safety.
As Kyle made his way to the pitcher’s mound at the Rangers game, the new logo was unveiled across the video screens at the ballpark. Afterwards, he got to ride around on the field in a Chevy Camaro with the official race logo on it. His family got to attend the game to see him named the winner, as did the person who nominated him: John Wayne Walding, a hero of Kyle’s and a Green Beret. At the race itself, Kyle will be given the VIP treatment, with garage tours and pace car rides, and he will also deliver the trophy to the winner in victory lane. And like most heroes, Kyle doesn’t feel that he deserves the recognition. “Honestly, I don’t feel like I’m deserving of this recognition. My true service to this country didn’t begin until I got out of the military and I’m proud to be in the position I am.”