ExtenZe Local Hero – Martinsville

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Adam Colborne 704-222-4122

ExtenZe Local Hero Program Honor’s A Henry County Sheriff in Martinsville and Assists in the Henry County Short Family Murder Case

Kevin Conway’s No. 7 ExtenZe Toyota will carry the images of the Short Family along with contact / $100,000 reward information on the deck lid for the TUMS Fast Relief 500

CHARLOTTE, NC(October 21, 2010) –On, July 21, 2010Henry County 911 dispatcher Karen Bryant’s grandmother, Ruth Thompson, was at Fort Trial Baptist Church in Stanleytown, VA when she collapsed unexpectedly. Corporal (Cpl.) Steven Ball was on routine patrol when he heard the call come over his radio at 7:24pm ET. Two minutes later he arrived on the scene and determined she was in cardiac arrest. Cpl. Ball initiated CPR and helped work her in the ambulance en route to the Emergency Room. She was resuscitated several times during the trip and walked out of the hospital several weeks later. Cpl. Ball is credited with saving her life for his speedy work and for thathe has been named an ‘ExtenZe Local Hero’ and will serve as an Honorary Crew Chief for NASCAR’s leading Sprint Cup Series Rookie-of-the-Year driver Kevin Conway and the ExtenZe racing team for this weekend’s TUMS Fast Relief 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway.

Additionally, as an extension to the ExtenZe Local Hero program in Martinsville and to further honor the Henry County Sheriff’s department, Conway’s No. 7 ExtenZe Toyota will carry images and contact/reward information on the Short Family murder case that has haunted the Henry County Sheriff’s department for the last eight years.

On August 15, 2002, at approximately 9:00am ET, the bodies of Michael and Mary Short were discovered in their Bassett, HenryCounty, Virginia, home. Michael was found on the couch inside the attached garage of the home with an apparent gun shot wound to his head. His wife Mary was found lying in her bed and had suffered the same fate as her husband. The Short's 9-year-old daughter, Jennifer, was not located in the home and a search ensued for the missing child. However, Jennifer's remains were found on September 25, 2002, along a stream bed off of Grogan Road, Stoneville, Rockingham County, North Carolina. It was determined that Jennifer's death was caused by a gunshot wound to the head.

Law enforcement authorities continue to seek the public's help in locating the suspect(s) involved in the murders of Michael, Mary and their young daughter Jennifer Short and are hoping that ExtenZe Racing’s help in this case will help them reach that one person out there that may have the answer in this case. A $100,000 reward is on the table and if anyone has any information concerning this case, law enforcement authorities ask that they be contacted at any of the following:

  • THE FBI BY LOGGING ONTO
  • FBI TIP LINE AT 1-800-225-5324
  • CRIMESTOPPERS AT 276-632-7463 OR 276-63CRIME

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“At ExtenZe and Robby Gordon Motorsports we couldn’t be more thrilled to help out and honor the Henry County Sheriff’s department this weekend at Martinsville,” said the leading NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie-of-the-Year driver Kevin Conway. “We look forward to having Cpl. Ball at the track with our team for his precise efforts in reviving Mrs. Thompson and with the reach and platform NASCAR gives us we hope that by carrying images and contact information on our car of the Short Family case that we will reach that one person out there that may know something that could help solve this case.”

The ‘ExtenZe Local Hero’ program pays tribute to people who have gone to great lengths to make a difference in their communities. Those selected have faced danger, sacrificed their own safety for others or in some way displayed leadership that changed their community for the better. Award recipients become ExtenZe Racing Honorary Crew Chiefs, receive a tour of the paddock, attend the pre-race NASCAR Driver/Crew Chief meeting, and sit atop the pit box with Crew Chief Miles Stanley to root on rookie driver Kevin Conway piloting the royal blue and red No. 7ExtenZe Toyota. Each recipient also receives a $1,000 award from ExtenZe, the world’s best selling male enhancement product, in recognition of their selflessness.

Fans can visit to nominate their own local heroes. Also check in on blog/twitter feeds for the latest information on ExtenZe Racing and Kevin Conway.

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