The widow of well-known Navy SEAL and "American Sniper" Chris Kyle will be honored during Sunday night's Coca-Cola pre-race "Salute to the Troops."
Taya Kyle will receive Charlotte Motor Speedway's annual Stonewall Jackson Award that recognizes recipients who have demonstrated, by example, the highest standards of patriotism.
Chris Kyle became the deadliest marksman in United States military history with a purported 255 kills -- 160 confirmed by the Department of Defense -- from four tours in the Iraq War. A noted fan of NASCAR and driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle authored the 2012 bestseller on which Clint Eastwood's 2014 biographical war drama film, American Sniper, was based. Kyle was killed by a troubled veteran at a Texas shooting range in February 2013.
After her husband's death, Taya Kyle founded the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation, focused on strengthening the marriages of veterans and first responders. A frequent public speaker, Taya Kyle appears at fundraisers and other events with the goal of inspiring her listeners to find strength and persevere through struggles. Her recently released memoir, American Wife, tells her private story of love and heartbreak, service and sacrifice, and faith and purpose.
Kyle and her two children live in Texas.
