The sporting world might not have heard the last of Heath Calhoun once the checkered flag falls at Saturday night's (May 1) Heath Calhoun 400, sponsored by Crown Royal.

Calhoun, 30, is the U.S. Army veteran who lost both legs in a 2003 explosion in Iraq and the grand-prize winner in the contest to name NASCAR's 10th Sprint Cup race of the 2010 season.

But Calhoun is also an accomplished Paralympics skier, having placed eighth for Team USA in the super-G and 10th in the combined (downhill and slalom) alpine events at Vancouver in March.

Although he hasn't committed, Calhoun, a self-described "professional ski bum" these days, is considering a run at making the 2014 U.S. team.

"My wife (Tiffany) thinks I've got a good shot at Sochi and wants me to try for 2014 in Russia. My kids (a son, seven, and daughters five and four) want me to stay home," Calhoun says. "My aspiration right now is to be the best dad and husband I can be and try to decide on skiing later."

Calhoun spent more than six months training in Aspen, Colo., then travelled to Europe, South America and Oregon in training for Vancouver. In addition to his time on the slopes, he spent countless hours in the gym.

But that was nothing like the physical commitment he made after the fateful day in Iraq.

"It was November 7, 2003," he recalls. "A rocket-propelled grenade came into the rear of the truck that I was in and amputated both my legs above the knees."

After evacuation, Calhoun said he nearly bled to death on a flight to Germany. After an emergency landing in Kuwait ("they pumped me full of blood") he was flown to Germany. He eventually spent nine months in rehabilitation at Walter Reed Medical Centre in Washington before returning home to Clarksville, Tenn.

Calhoun, who received a Purple Heart and George C. Lang Award for Courage, never considered the possibility of becoming an elite athlete until fate intervened.

"I mostly started skiing after I lost my legs," he says. "I played some basketball in high school. But here we are (competing as) one of the country's top disabled athletes and competing on a world scale. It's kind of the proverbial making lemonade out of lemons."

Calhoun was introduced to NASCAR at an early age by his grandfather, Beldon Thomas, who is joining him at the track this weekend. He grew up a Darrell Waltrip fan and attended races with his uncles at Bristol (Tenn) Motor Speedway. As an adult, he began rooting for Tony Stewart.

This week, however, Calhoun has been spending time with Matt Kenseth, driver of the Crown Royal car. Calhoun and Kenseth were luncheon guests of Virginia governor Bob McDonnell on Thursday (May 6).

"In general, a fan picks a driver and sticks with him," Calhoun says. "But I've been fortunate enough, through Crown Royal, to meet Matt Kenseth, and what an awesome guy he is. It's hard for me not to pull for him."

This is the fourth year Crown Royal has sponsored a "Your Name Here" contest to name the spring race in Richmond, but the first time it's focused the promotion solely on military service members to honour heroic achievements.

Calhoun, who works closely with the Wounded Warrior Project, was one of five finalists. A release from Crown Royal said he was selected in part because of his "determination and ability to inspire others to live their lives to the fullest despite their injuries."

He will serve as the race's grand marshal, participate in pace car laps and watch the race from Kenseth's No. 17 pit box. In addition, he'll deliver the trophy with his name on it in victory lane. For Calhoun, it's the next-best thing to being on the Olympic podium.

"It's just been an incredible, humbling experience to be honoured this way in a contest highlighting military injuries," he says. (The End)