Tampa Charity, INDYCAR Team Keep Their Promises To Local Veteran

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Despite coronavirus's best efforts at keeping Karl Newman off the St Pete Grand Prix race course, Tampa Bay Charity Wheels of Success and the Arrow McLaren SP Race team kept the promise they made to Army veteran Karl Newman.

While the biggest part of the Wheels of Success mission was fulfilled in March, the presentation of a 2008 Chevrolet HHR to Newman there was some unfinished business.

The Plant City resident was presented the HHR by NTT INDYCAR series team Arrow McLaren SP and corporate partner Vuse Vapor, fulfilling the promise they’d made to him to give him a real taste of speed in the INDYCAR two-seater race experience. Nearly five months after the race’s initial scheduling, the race was back on and Neman got his fast lap along with the VIP race experience, presented by Vuse Vapor.

For most of 2019, Newman, a AAA road service technician who spends his days on the highways of the Tampa area rescuing stranded drivers, had found himself and his family stranded without a vehicle.

“Before this car, it had been tough,” Newman admitted at the presentation. “I took the bus or Uber and it was expensive. This car has meant so much to my family, that’s for sure.”

In addition to trips to the grocery and work, Newman spent nearly $100 each week taking his son to Tampa for leukemia treatment appointments. Newman had applied to Tampa-based charity Wheels of Success and Wheels of Success founder Susan Jacobs facilitated the presentation.

“We knew we wanted to do something meaningful in our first year as an IndyCar team partner,” said Natasha Webster, spokeswoman for Vuse Vapor. “Hearing Karl’s story, we knew: We have to do this. I’m also a veteran and understand the sacrifices he’s made. We’re proud to see how this car has helped him get his family back on track.”

On a bright March afternoon in Lassing Park in St. Petersburg, a crowd of curious neighbors gathered around an Arrow McLaren SP race car, team representatives and a shiny black Chevrolet HHR. Motorsports and college football sports media legend Dr. Jerry Punch were on hand to make the presentation to Newman, remarking that community connections bring out the best in the sportsmen and competitors that race in INDYCAR.

In a coincidence too good to be scripted, a group of Army Reserve soldiers who were training in the park saw the commotion, walked over and gave Newman a cheer as he got his keys.

Now, in October, Newman was eager to feel the rush of excitement of being in a car tuned for the track.

“It’ll be fun, I’m sure,” said Newman. “But no matter how fun, it won’t match that HHR when it comes to making my family happy.”

“Arrow McLaren SP is a team committed to doing the right things the right way. Even with the race cancellation, we wanted to show Karl, the INDYCAR paddock and all of Tampa Bay that racing is part of their community,” said Sam Schmidt, AMSP team owner. “It took a partnership of Wheels of Success, Vuse Vapor and our team to make this happen. It was a great day.”

Schmidt and Webster said that the success of the car presentation was the first that the team and VUSE presented in 2020.

“In light of everything that’s gone on this year, it means a lot to our company that we’ve made a real positive impact in Karl’s life - a lot of people here felt good about that weekend," said Webster.