Drag racing philanthropist Evan Knoll will deliver a salute to America's military veterans during the 2007 NHRA POWERade Series season using a Top Fuel dragster as his billboard. Knoll will honor all Vietnam veterans with the entry driven by popular Melanie Troxel at all 23 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events this season.

Knoll has dedicated this car to the memory of the 58,195 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who gave their lives in the line of duty along with the 304,704 who were wounded in action. All told, almost 1.6 million members of the United States military saw combat action during the conflict. The highest troop concentrations reached 543,482 during April 1968.

“They got anything but a hero's welcome when they returned home,” Knoll said. “They did what their country asked of them, and regardless of what anyone's political beliefs are, it's high time these men and women got the due respect they deserve. That is what this car is. It's a high-horsepower welcome wagon. From what I understand, there are still over 1,750 members of the military still missing and unaccounted for.”

Knoll hopes to bring awareness to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and to the half-scale version of the black marble wall that was designed to travel the United States. His objective is to grow support for the preservation of this crucial monument through the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

ABOVE PROVIDED BY GARY PRUITT

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