[caption id=“attachment_10564” align=“aligncenter” width=“750”]The No. 47 Kroger Chevrolet - driven by AJ Allmendinger - roars around Daytona International Speedway. The Kroger-sponsored car featured the USO logo during Sunday's Daytona 500. Courtesy photo The No. 47 Kroger Chevrolet - driven by AJ Allmendinger - roars around Daytona International Speedway. The Kroger-sponsored car featured the USO logo during Sunday’s Daytona 500. Courtesy photo[/caption]

The No. 47 Kroger Chevrolet - driven by AJ Allmendinger - featured some specialty sponsor signage in the form of a USO logo during Sunday’s Daytona 500.

“It's so cool to see the Kroger Co. partnering with the USO again this season to Honor Our Heroes,” Allmendinger said in a pre-race release. “It’s a nice way to recognize America’s troops and their families.

Allmendinger had a great start to Daytona week, recording the fastest lap during Wednesday’s practice session and leading the race through 83 laps. However, a cracked right rear caliper kept him on pit road for long stretches, limiting him to a 26th-place finish.

Kroger’s Honoring Our Heroes initiative encourages the public to learn about what Kroger and the USO are doing every day to help America’s troops and their families. You can find out more about the campaign and how to get involved at honoringourheroes.com.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. - another driver who knows something about supporting service members - took the checkered flag Sunday night. Earnhardt spoke with the USO’s magazine On Patrol in 2012 about taking time out to meet America’s troops.