Presentation of the NABC Recycled Rides® on October 5, 2025, Took Place During NASCAR Race Weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway
MEDIA NOTE: Photos and Video from the NABC Recycled Rides® presentation are available HERE
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (October 5, 2025) – On Sunday, October 5, four Charlotte, NC veterans received life-changing gifts—the donation of beautifully refurbished vehicles to help them care for their families. The donations were made possible by the NABC Recycled Rides® program, vehicle donor GEICO and repair partner Maaco, where they were refurbished by the technicians from area shops in Gastonia, Graham and Mooresville.
The presentation, sponsored by the Petty Family Foundation, was part of the annual NASCAR Bank of America 400 weekend and took place in the Charlotte Motor Speedway Fan Zone. The Petty Family Foundation is a non-profit organization started by NASCAR’s winningest driver, Richard Petty, and his son and NASCAR race winner, Kyle Petty, which allows their family to stay involved with their community by providing financial support to various causes and charities.
Richard and Kyle Petty, along with The National Auto Body Council®, GEICO and Maaco, presented a fully refurbished 2016 KIA Optima LX to Jakori Johnson, a 2019 Nissan Rogue S to Raymond Rios, a 2021 Nissan Rogue SL to DeCarlo Johnson and a 2018 Hyundai Tucson SE to Cantius Baptist.
“We’re glad to be a part of this gifting today for these veterans who have given so much and we’re glad to give back to them,” said Matt Billing, Regional Operations Coach, Maaco. “Our involvement starts with GEICO donating them and we get to fix them up as part of the NABC Recycled Rides® program. Thanks to all the technicians who helped get these vehicles refurbished, they take pride in it. It was an honor to be able to do this for these veterans.”
Jakori Johnson is a man who never shies away from a challenge, despite how scary or overwhelming it may feel at first; he believes he can and knows he can do it! He’s a man of courage, integrity, and confidence. Johnson served in the United States Army from 2016-2018 and received the following: National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and an Overseas Service Ribbon. After leaving the military he had several episodes of homelessness, due to job insecurity and instability. However, due to his persistence and determination, he has been permanently housed through the Department of Veterans Affairs, HUD/VASH program since February 2024. He is now gainfully employed, full-time, as an energy technician and is working towards his goal of opening his own HVAC business. Jakori sees problems as possibilities and obstacles as opportunities. His resiliency shows his amazing strength and ability to overcome adversity. This refurbished vehicle from NABC Recycled Rides® is life changing for Jakori. It will provide reliable transportation for him to get to/from work, medical appointments and allow him to give back to others.
Raymond Rios is a United States Army veteran having served from 1975 – 1979. He battles serious transportation obstacles which significantly impact his ability to attend essential medical appointments. Rios wants to give back and serve his community despite his limitations. A refurbished vehicle from NABC Recycled Rides® will allow him to continue supporting his health and wellness goals. Access to this vehicle would not only provide Rios with independence and stability but also allow him to continue engaging in meaningful community activities.
DeCarlo Johnson is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps having served from 2008 – 2012. He has been working very hard to provide for himself and his daughter. Johnson enrolled in school to get his Commercial Driver’s License and is currently training behind the wheel with the hope of obtaining a job in the trucking industry. Due to a lack of transportation, he has not been able to visit his daughter, who he cares for deeply. A refurbished vehicle from NABC Recycled Rides® will allow Johnson to continue working towards his goal of stability and economic self-sufficiency.
Cantius Baptist is a veteran of the United States Army, serving from 1985 – 1993. After facing serious health challenges, he found himself teetering on the edge of homelessness. Through determination and a proactive spirit, Baptist worked to rebuild his life. Today, he has stable housing and is focused on providing for his family. While housing has brought a sense of security, a lack of transportation remains the issue that prevents he and his family from fully moving forward. A refurbished vehicle from NABC Recycled Rides® will allow Baptist to access better job opportunities, help his wife with errands and appointments and ensure their child gets to and from school safely. After having overcome so much, a reliable vehicle will allow him to continue building the future his family deserves.
“Honestly this just means everything to me and I’m just so appreciative,” said recipient Jakori Johnson. “It’s truly life changing, and it helps me to secure financial stability even more than I’ve been able to do without the vehicle.”
“First of all, this will greatly improve my mobility, and it will allow my life with my daughter to become a little more fluid because I will be able to take her and pick her up from school,” said recipient DeCarlo Johnson. “I am extremely, extremely grateful as a veteran in my community because we have the notion that we don’t need to ask for help. It makes a difference when you have different organizations that will listen to you and communicate on your behalf with you being their main priority. The NABC, to reinvest in us like this is very heartfelt.”
The recipients were nominated by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and Veterans Bridge Home. The Department of Veterans Affairs’ mission is to fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers and survivors. Veterans Bridge Home is a committed advocate for service members, veterans, and their families in the Carolinas to create stronger communities one veteran at a time.
GEICO, a Level One partner of the National Auto Body Council®, has donated more than a thousand vehicles to people and organizations through NABC Recycled Rides, making it the largest car donor partner of NABC Recycled Rides.
Maaco, a part of Driven Brands, is also a Level One partner of the National Auto Body Council®. Since 1972, Maaco has serviced more than 20 million cars and works with all insurance companies. Maaco also guarantees their work with nationwide warranties.
NABC Recycled Rides® is a unique program in which businesses representing all facets of the collision repair industry team up to repair and donate vehicles to individuals and families in need of reliable transportation. Since the inception of the NABC Recycled Rides® program in 2007, members of the National Auto Body Council® have donated more than 3,500 vehicles valued at some $51 million.
Additional partners in this presentation include: NASCAR Racing Experience, Copart, Enterprise, Advanced Remarketing Services and Cars for Charity.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL AUTO BODY COUNCIL®
The National Auto Body Council® is the premier organization of collision industry partners dedicated to strategic networking opportunities that positively change lives in the communities we serve. The collaborative membership of the National Auto Body Council® has gifted more than 3,500 vehicles and provided extrication opportunities for some 6,000 First Responders in communities around the country through NABC Recycled Rides® and NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™). That effort equates to a 4:1 ROI in dollar value delivered from NABC® membership dollars.
The NABC Changing and Saving Lives Foundation, a 501c3 organization, is committed to the goal of driving change for veterans, military members, first responders and families in need, while harnessing the power of the collective membership of the collision repair industry to positively impact communities where we live and work. As demand for NABC® programs like NABC Recycled Rides® and NABC F.R.E.E.™ grows, so do the needs for resources to manage these important programs. Being able to pursue grants, gifts and donations allows NABC to expand these programs to serve those in need and help communities where we live and work. For more information, visit www.NationalautoBodyCouncil.org.