Last October, Cherokee County native Dustin Humphrey, USMC (ret.) and his wife Jessica joined other wounded service members from Alabama as guests of Brad Keselowski's Checkered Flag Foundation (CFF) for a VIP race weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.

That experience literally changed Humphrey's mission in life.

Humphrey, 24, was so impressed with the work of the CFF that he embarked upon a six-month endeavor he calls “Project Hero's Hero” that came to fruition in April Aaron's Dream Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway with the presentation of two custom-built rifles to the CFF worth a combined $10,000.

After contacting a number of different companies, Humphrey received donations of enough components to build the first-rate custom rifles for the foundation — one for his new favorite NASCAR driver, Keselowski, and the other for the foundation to raffle off to continue to provide support to other wounded service members.

“I took on this project after I had spent the weekend with the CFF team at the track with many other veterans,” said Humphrey. “We had a great time and I was very impressed with how much the CFF went out of its way to help us disabled veterans.”

“I am so impressed by the great sacrifices that brave men and women just like Dustin make for country every single day,” Keselowski said. “I know that the recovery process takes a toll, so I am proud and honored that Dustin would take the time and effort to give back to the foundation in this way. It's awesome.”

When Humphrey, a hobbyist gun builder, returned home from the October race, he shared his plan with his wife who was supportive, but reminded him they didn't have the money for such an ambitious project. He started contacting manufacturers and retailers, and after an e-mail back from Brownells with a promise of $2,000 in parts, he knew he was well on his way.

Humphrey says the project is a perfect fit for him, as injuries sustained while fighting in Iraq sometimes affect the four-year Marine veteran's work pace.

“After Iraq, I had a few problems that slowed me down a little bit,” he said. “The worst was Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) — a few close encounters with IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) can rattle your brain around in your head from the shock waves. I have short-and long-term memory loss, headaches, mood swings, confusion.”

Each of the rifles is a Core15 SPR (special purpose rifle) chambered in the military round 5.56 NATO/ or .223 Remington. They are black with olive drab green furniture, 20-inch target barrels, two-stage competition triggers, Magpul precision rifle stocks, Midwest Industries free-floating, quad-rail hand guards, along with other custom Brownells and Magpul accessories.

Each rifle has Surefire weapon lights, Versa-Pod bipods and painted in Laur Custom Weaponry Duracoat paint. Keselowski's rifle is equipped with a Trijicon Acog 4x32 scope and the raffle rifle will have a Leupold scope. Country Sportsman in Rome, Ga., also donated accessories.

“Only the best components went into these rifles,” said Humphrey.

Tickets for a chance to win the rifle can be purchased online at www.cffrifleraffle.com all the way up to Memorial Day. The website also has a short video of Humphrey's presentation of the rifles to Keselowski at Talladega.

“I am proud to be helping the CFF raise money to help out families in need and I hope I can keep helping in the future."