December 29, 2003 to January 3, 2004 - Tony Liberati spent two days in and around Baghdad during a six-day trip to the Middle East as part of the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserves NASCAR Civic Leaders II Tour. He visited soldiers in Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar with a group of eight NASCAR personalities, including car owners Richard Childress and Jack Roush, and drivers Rick Crawford and Ron Hornaday.

While on his Middle East tour, Liberati spent time at the Baghdad airport and also traveled several hours by convoy to a military controlled power station, where he greeted servicemen and signed autographs. He also witnessed what life is like for many Iraqis.

Liberati also flew in military Blackhawk helicopters to a remote base where he said no entertainment group had ever been to before. He also witnessed the tragedies of war when two deceased American soldiers, including a female helicopter pilot, were transported on their military C-130 flight out of Baghdad.

"When we were shaking hands with the young guys, the reality of what they were doing was realized when we got back on the airplane and had to escort two bodies back to the United States. One of which was the female helicopter pilot from Easley, South Carolina," Liberati shared. "It was difficult knowing that one of the guys you shook hands with on the tour may end up the same way."