A 3' X 5' American Flag, that was flown from a United States Air Force gun ship during the first combat mission from Balad Air Base, Iraq, has been presented to Key Motorsports and in honor of the No. 40 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team.

Staff Sergeant David W. Goodfriend, the Senior Controller for the 816 Expeditionary Special Operations Group of USAF Maintenance Operations Center, made the presentation.

Goodfriend was the bunkmate of current, part-time Key Motorsports tire carrier Colin McGuffin in the Air Force for five years. McGuffin, who left the service in 2004, hails from California while Goodfriend, who has now served four tours of duty in the Middle East, hails from Fort Walton Beach, FL. The two were stationed together at Hurlburt Field near Fort Walton Beach.

The American Flag, that will now become the Key Motorsports pit identification marker for the remaining races on the 2006 Craftsman Truck Series season schedule, was flown on the AC-130V "Spooky Gunship", tail #90-0166 on March 2, 2006.

"We are honored that the United States Air Force and the squad from that gunship and combat mission have bestowed this honor on our race team," team owner Curtis W. Key, Sr. said. "We will cherish the moment and will be privileged to display the flag in our pit during the remaining races in 2006," he added.

Several other Key Motorsports team members during the current race season have had family members serving in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Key Motorsports saluted these soldiers on their No. 40 Chevrolet Silverado race truck in races held during the Memorial Day and Independence Day holiday weekends.

Key Motorsports received a commemorative Certificate of Authenticity of the flag's prior use and will display the framed article in its race shop.