SAN DIEGO - MARCH 2, 2026

BUDDA BAKER AND DR. KATHERINE STEELE, Ed.D ANNOUNCED AS DIGNITARIES FOR THE NASCAR GOVX 200

“We are honored to partner with GOVX in their commitment to those who have served. Their matching campaign is a powerful example of what it means to invest in the next generation of leaders, not just in words, but in action. At the Pat Tillman Foundation, we believe the best years of service for our Tillman Scholars are ahead of them, and partners like GovX help make that possible.”

-Dr. Katherine Steele, Pat Tillman Foundation CEO.

NASCAR and GOVX, the online shopping platform exclusively for current and former military, first responders, emergency medical professionals, and other government personnel announced today the official dignitaries for the upcoming NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series GOVX 200, scheduled for Saturday, March 7th at the historic Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona.


Serving as the Grand Marshal for this year’s GOVX 200 will be 8-time Pro Bowl and 2-time First Team All-Pro safety Budda Baker of the hometown Arizona Cardinals. Having the honor of saying the most famous words in motorsports, Baker will be on hand to give the command in person before the 5:00PM MST start time.


Dr. Katherine Steele, Ed.D, Chief Executive Officer of the Pat Tillman Foundation, has been named the Honorary Starter for the race. A 2014 Tillman Scholar herself, Dr. Steele will be tasked with waving the green flag ahead of the day’s action.


“We are incredibly honored to welcome Budda Baker and Dr. Katherine Steele as our dignitaries for the GOVX 200 at Phoenix Raceway,” said Alan Cole, GOVX CEO. “Budda is a Cardinals legend who brings an unmatched level of intensity and pride to the Arizona secondary, while Dr. Steele’s work with the Pat Tillman Foundation stands as a powerful tribute to the service and sacrifice of our military members and their families.”


The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series GOVX 200 marks the second consecutive year GOVX has had the distinction of operating as a Title Sponsor, following last season’s inaugural race.


"We are honored to partner with GOVX in their commitment to those who have served.” said Dr. Katherine Steele, Pat Tillman Foundation CEO. “Their matching campaign is a powerful example of what it means to invest in the next generation of leaders, not just in words, but in action. At the Pat Tillman Foundation, we believe the best years of service for our Tillman Scholars are ahead of them, and partners like GovX help make that possible."


The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series GOVX 200 marks the second consecutive year GOVX has had the distinction of operating as a Title Sponsor, following last season’s inaugural race. As part of an official multi-year partnership, GOVX also serves as the Presenting Sponsor and Official Verification Partner of the NASCAR Miltix program, offering discounted race tickets of 50% off or more to NASCAR-owned tracks nationwide, including Phoenix Raceway. Eligible service members will be able to access this benefit through both NASCAR.com and GOVX.com.


About GovX

GOVX is dedicated to serving those who serve our country and communities – military service members, first responders, law enforcement officers, emergency medical professionals, and other government service personnel. With a customizable suite of solutions, GOVX provides leading brands who share in this mission with a unique opportunity to support this deserving audience. Through the flagship marketplace, GOVX.com, brands can authentically reach a growing community of 11M+ members with their own storefront. More than 2K trusted brands currently have a storefront on GOVX.com, offering unbeatable deals to those who serve. With the proprietary verification app, GOVX ID, brands can easily enable service member discounts within the checkout flow of their own sites. More than 5K brands currently utilize GOVX ID technology to honor service members. By leveraging GOVX marketing services solutions, brands can effectively amplify their products or services within an engaged and exclusive community and reinforce their support for Americans who make a difference. In addition to providing unmatched value to those who serve, GOVX also donates a portion of every order to non-profits who serve the military and first responder community. To date, over $3M has been donated through the GOVX Gives Back initiative. For more information, visit https://www.govx.com.


ABOUT NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR consists of three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West, and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour), and the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series.


The 2026 season marks a historic evolution for the sport, featuring the return of “The Chase” championship format across all three national series to reward season-long consistency and performance. In the NASCAR Cup Series, 16 drivers compete over a 10-race postseason to be crowned champion at the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.


NASCAR continues to push the boundaries of racing innovation with the Next Gen car and a diverse 2026 schedule that includes a debut street race at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, the first points-paying race at North Wilkesboro Speedway since 1996, and an increased 750-horsepower package for short tracks and road courses. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 12 countries and more than 30 U.S. states. For more information, visit www.nascar.com.


ABOUT THE PAT TILLMAN FOUNDATION

In 2002, Pat Tillman put his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals on hold to serve his country. After his passing in 2004, Pat’s family and friends started the Pat Tillman Foundation to honor and continue his legacy. The Pat Tillman Foundation recognizes remarkable service members, veterans, and military spouses as the next generation of leaders. Through academic scholarships, lifelong leadership development, and a global community of peers and supporters, the Foundation empowers these individuals to make a meaningful impact as they transition into their next chapter of service beyond self.


Learn more and support at www.pattillmanfoundation.org/donate/.


CHRIS BOHNERT - CPO

Chris joined GOVX in 2015, bringing more than 15 years of product, marketing and general management experience in the consumer internet space. As head of Product at GOVX, Chris leads product management, design and business intelligence for the entire product portfolio.


Chris began his career at Active Network in 2002 and helped grow the company from start-up to a successful IPO in 2011. During his time at Active Network, Chris managed several teams and product-lines, including the flagship media property, Active.com and the eCommerce division.


In 2012, Chris joined Takelessons, an online education marketplace matching students with qualified teachers. As VP of Product and Technology, he led a cross-functional team, including engineering, product management and design.


Chris earned a BA from the University of Arizona and an MBA from San Diego State University.

ADAM HOMZE - VP ENGINEERING

Adam joined GOVX in 2014 as the Vice President of Software Development and is responsible for leading the software development group, how our applications are built, and scaling the GOVX tech stack.


Since 2005, Adam has actively participated in the growth phase of several startups; holding multiple technical and leadership positions. Over that time, he has developed a wide range of skills to tackle the challenges inherent in building technology companies.


Adam earned a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of California, San Diego.

AARON PELANDER - CHIEF BRAND OFFICER

As the leader of the Brand Marketing team at GOVX, Aaron is responsible for crafting and executing a comprehensive brand strategy that supports GOVX’s business goals and mission. Working closely with the wider marketing and creative teams, Aaron brings the GOVX identity to life through creative storytelling, consistent brand messaging, strategic marketing channel investments, impactful partnerships and sponsorships, and alignment with key non-profit organizations, all aimed at increasing GOVX brand awareness and recall.


Before joining GOVX in 2014, Aaron held senior marketing and management roles at the Active Network and Provide Commerce. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Arizona and his MBA from San Diego State University.

CAROL SCHNUGG - CFO

Carol serves as Chief Financial Officer for GOVX and oversees all financial, accounting and administrative matters for the Company as well as negotiating and administrating Brand-Partners’ wholesale pricing. Prior to joining GOVX, she served as Controller for Billabong’s Sector 9 company, where she oversaw its acquisition by Billabong and was recruited to oversee all financial and accounting matters along with managing its e-commerce site.


Carol previously owned and operated her own accounting and tax practice and was an accountant with Deloitte & Touche.


Carol received a B.S. in finance from San Diego State University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

ALAN COLE - CEO/PRESIDENT

Alan began his career as co-founder and President of DELTYME Corporation, a San Diego-based web services firm working with national clients including Target, Cisco Systems, Costco and Garden Fresh.


After stepping away from an operating role at DELTYME, Alan attended business school at the University of Texas with a focus on entrepreneurial management. During his time in Austin he took on due diligence responsibilities at Gefinor Ventures (an early stage venture firm) and worked in marketing and business development roles in several Austin-area startups including Convio and Metreos.


Alan ultimately moved back to San Diego to join Active Network, where he held executive responsibility for the company's $50M Media + Marketing division. After six years with Active Network, Alan moved on to serve as COO of TakeLessons, an online education marketplace connecting students with qualified teachers. In late 2016, Alan joined GOVX as CEO.

Alan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Santa Clara University and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.