NASCAR Sprint Cup driver and Chase contender Clint Bowyer joined more than 3,000 students from Byron Nelson, Northwest and Steele Accelerated high schools to honor local first responders as part of a special remembrance assembly held at Texas Motor Speedway on Tuesday.

A bunch of area firefighters, paramedics, police officers and dispatchers were on hand to participate in a "Heroes Walk" as cheerleaders, band members and students cheered as a way to show their respect and gratitude. Bowyer also shared his thanks and admiration for all those first responders who helped 11 years ago.

"I'm proud to have them here," Bowyer said of the first responders who were at the assembly. "It's so important to remember them. I can't go anywhere without knowing somebody who wasn't directly affected by it. My truck driver lost his brother on 9/11. It's incredible the sacrifices that those folks give for our freedom so that we can have a comfortable way of life."