The Associated Press
CHARLESTON, S.C. — The names of the nine firefighters who died in a furniture store fire last month will be displayed on Joe Nemecheck’s No. 13 car at Saturday’s Pepsi 400 in Daytona, Fla.
The Sofa Super Store fire in Charleston on June 18 was the worst single loss of U.S. firefighters’ lives since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The city’s fire department logo also will be visible on Nemecheck’s hood and side panels at Daytona International Speedway.
NASCAR team owner Bobby Ginn is donating $20,000 to the families through the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
“I wanted to let the families of the fallen victims and the Charleston community know that our race team shares in the mourning of these great American heroes,” he said.
Ginn, a South Carolina native, said he hopes the new paint job will prompt others to donate.
“These families are obviously without their loved ones and need help,” he said.