Upper Arlington, Ohio, native Pete Cline never served in the military, but he has served at the racetrack his whole life. Cline was involved with motorcycle racing for over 10 years before he started a nonprofit called VETMotorsports. The organization's goal is to empower veterans who were disabled in combat by giving them the opportunity to be involved in professional motorsports. Through VETMotorsports, former servicemembers have the opportunity to get behind the wheel in amateur car races or work in the pit crew at a professional race.
The Columbus Dispatch reported that Cline got the idea for his nonprofit while watching an episode of "Top Gear" that involved veterans. From then on, he wanted to include the former servicemembers in the high-adrenaline world of racing to help them feel useful and included again.
"[The experience] gives you a sense of purpose," Josh Henderson, an Army veteran from the area, told The Columbus Dispatch. "It gives you that team environment. And it's a lot more controlled than being in a combat zone."
To date, VETMotorsports has given over 100 veterans the chance to participate in races and events around the country. Cline also won $5,000 for the organization when he was given 2014's Direct Energy Volunteer Citizen of the Year Award for Columbus because of his efforts.