If you know anything about Jay Leno, then you probably know that the former Tonight Show host is a huge - and I mean huge - fan of cars. His collection is one of the most impressive car collections in the country, featuring everything from a 2010 Jaguar CW75 to a 1909 Baker Electric.
It's the all-new 707-horsepower 2015 Dodge Challenger Hellcat that is one of Leno's favorite new offerings. And it was this powerful muscle car that Leno used to make the day of one special American soldier.
The soldier's name is Cpl. Ethan Laberge, who was on foot patrol in Afghanistan when he was seriously injured by a suicide bomber. "I had shrapnel that went through my...foot into my left knee and I had a hole in the back of my left leg," Leberge said. "I had a superficial wound above my right knee and I also had shrapnel that went into my arm, broke off the end of my radius, broke up a couple of bones in my wrist and essentially shattered my thumb."
Leno had been looking to do something special for our servicewomen and men outside of the usual volunteer and monetary donations made on their behalf. Cpl. Laberge was chosen out of a sort of "lottery" put together by Leno from a group of wounded warriors to go on a special visit to a local custom car lot, where Leno took Cpl. Lebarge for a ride of his life in a brand-new 2015 Challenger Hellcat.
Cpl. Lebarge was even given his own chance to drive the muscle car. But the fun wasn't over for the brave young soldier. After having a meal with Leno, where they talked about his continuing recovery from his injuries - and of course about cars - Leno surprised Leberge by gifting the Hellcat to the young man.
"It's yours," Leno said. "America loves you. Thank you buddy. Have a lot of fun. Don't get any tickets."
