Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer to participate in Mint 400 off-road race

 With “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty” as a description of his military service, Marine Corp Sgt. Dakota Meyer is already an unmitigated badass. But now, the 26-year-old can add “race car driver” right below “Medal of Honor recipient” to his impressive resume.

Sgt. Meyer will take to the wheel of a class one off-road truck at next month’s running of the infamous Mint 400. He’ll be running in truck 1588, shown above, one of the three vehicles being fielded by the Roberts Racing team, and will be competing to raise awareness of the disturbing veteran suicide rate.

Meyer knows about the troubles facing returning combat vets firsthand, having attempted suicide in 2010 before seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

“I am excited to race The Mint 400 and help raise awareness at the plight of our veterans. I want to demonstrate that we are in fact not done with living life to its fullest,” Sgt. Meyer said in the attached statement. “Twenty two veterans a day commit suicide, this is a tragedy we all need to work together to stop. I was nearly a statistic but now I am example of how to push on and live.”

The 2015 Mint 400 runs on March 14, where Meyer will be joined by other celebrities, including Patrick Dempsey and Dax Shepard. The race will air on NBC, although only as part of a two-hour special, being shown on June 28 at 2:00 p.m. Check out the full press release from Roberts Racing, below.