On Thursday, July 29th, children from the Blackmon Road Community in Rock Hill, SC, came to NASCAR Plaza as part of that week's summer camp activities.

Tshneka Tate from NASCAR Media Group's legal department and Willie Engram from NASCAR's automotive department stopped by to share stories with the kids about their careers and how education played a vital role in their career successes. The speakers shared some great advice with the kids - explaining to them how important it is to set goals for yourself and choose career paths based on things you are passionate about.

After hearing from the speakers, watching a short NASCAR video and enjoying a pizza lunch on the 19th floor of NASCAR Plaza, the kids took a very crowded elevator ride back down to the lobby and walked around to the NASCAR Hall of Fame for a fun-filled afternoon of learning about the history of NASCAR.

Back in May, The NASCAR Foundation hosted a volunteer project in the Blackmon Road Community for NASCAR Day. Volunteers from the motorsports industry, as well as the local community, worked for two days to revamp the community's playground.

For the second year, Iowa Speedway and The NASCAR Foundation will host “Rusty’s Walk” to honor NASCAR Legend and Iowa Speedway designer Rusty Wallace.

Fans and community members will once again have the unique opportunity to walk a lap around the 7/8-mile asphalt tri-oval before the start of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race.

Ann Williamson participated in “Rusty’s Walk” last year and has convinced her husband to join her this year.

“I was so enthused by last year’s event, I’m bringing him along this year,” said Williamson.

Rusty’s Walk, which begins at 11a.m. on July 31, gives fans the opportunity to experience the race track up close and personal.

“You can watch it,” said Williamson.  “But until you actually experience it from that level, you have no idea.  Walking the track gives you a whole new perspective.  It exhilarates you.”

Wallace, the 1989 Sprint Cup Champion, will join the walkers as they make their way around the track.  Last year, Wallace mingled with fans throughout the walk and stayed to sign autographs for the more than 300 walkers.

“He was very gracious,” said Williamson.  “(For him to join the walk) shows that he doesn’t mind mingling with the fans.  We are all just people.”

Participating in Rusty’s Walk gives walkers the opportunity to talk and share their favorite NASCAR memories with other fans from all over the country.

“We met race fans from California, Oregon and all over,” said Williamson.  “We discussed our favorite drivers.  My husband likes Jimmie Johnson.  I like Dale Jr. but I also like Clint Bowyer and Elliott Sadler - because we share the same birthday.”

No matter who a fan roots for, the Track Walk is a great place to meet fellow fans who share a passion for NASCAR.

“It doesn’t matter if you are a CEO or digging ditches,” said Williamson.  “We are all race fans.”

Prior to entering the track for the one lap trek, event participants will enjoy a kick-off celebration and receive a commemorative t-shirt.

Registration is $30 online and $35 at the track.  Children 14 and under are free with a paid adult.  For more information and to register, please visit www.nascar.com/foundation and click on “Track Walks.”

Track Walk participants also have the opportunity to raise funds and awareness for the charitable causes supported by The NASCAR Foundation Track Walks by using our online fundraising tools and other fundraising resources.

100% of the funds raised will benefit The NASCAR Foundation. The NASCAR Foundation embodies the compassion of the NASCAR Family and our commitment to serving communities. The Foundation supports a wide range of charitable initiatives that reflect the core values of the entire NASCAR Family. The NASCAR Foundation will use the strength of the sport and its people to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.

On Friday, July 16th, The NASCAR Foundation hosted 1,400 students at the NASCAR Hall of Fame for the Carolinas Freedom School Jubilee. The Jubilee was a celebration of 10 years of serving at-risk students with a mission to engage, educate and empower children through educational enrichment programs.

The Carolinas Freedom School Jubilee raises much-needed funds for the non-profit organization while showcasing the literacy-based, summer-learning opportunity offered to children free of charge. The NASCAR Foundationserved as one of the platinum sponsors along with support from numerous community advocates.

Michael Marks had never won anything in his life but he hit the jackpot after entering The NASCAR Foundation’s NASCAR Day 2010 Sweepstakes.

Marks and a guest will get the experience of a lifetime as they are treated to three days and two nights in Las Vegas for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champions Week in December.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Marks.  “I’ve really never won anything.  I’m looking so forward to it.”

Marks, a propane-truck driver from South Florida, hopes to bring his wife along on the trip as his guest but recent health problems may prevent her from joining him.  However, the two still love to take weekend motorcycle trips, especially to the Georgia Mountains.

“My wife and I will go about 150 to 200 miles on a weekend.  We’ll take off early and go somewhere for breakfast and we’ll just ride.  Florida is straight flat roads.  Up in Georgia, there are beautiful curves.  We love the peace and quiet and beauty of the mountains.  We get away from everybody and everything.  It is the best therapy in the world for her and for me.” 

If Marks’ wife is unable to attend, one of his NASCAR buddies will join him in the unique NASCAR fan experience and as he hopes to fulfill his personal dream of meeting driver Mark Martin.

“I’m 68-years-old and I still want to meet Mark Martin face-to-face,” said Marks.  “I like a lot of the drivers.  A lot of the drivers are great but Mark’s been my favorite.  If he’s going to be there, I’d like to meet him.”

The trip will also be Marks’s first to Las Vegas.

“I passed through Las Vegas in 1961 on a motorcycle trip,” said Marks.  “But that was a long time ago.”

Included in Marks’ NASCAR Day Sweepstakes package are round-trip air transportation, hotel accommodations and passes to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week events for two.

For the past two summers, I have had the amazing opportunity to be a part of the Victory Junction family as a cabin counselor.  The camp family is something that once you become a part of you never truly leave.

This summer, as a recent college graduate, I made the difficult decision to forgo working at camp to concentrate on finding a full time job.  I am currently interning with The NASCAR Foundation along with Matt Knauss and Brittani Parker.

The three of us recently took a trip to Randleman, N.C. to visit the camp and donate some much-needed teddy bears for the campers.  They welcomed me back like I hadn’t missed a day and were eager to show Matt and Brittani the true magic that is the Victory Junction.

Our day began by watching the camp video in the Administration building.  The video really explains the camp’s mission and highlights the different activities in which kids can participate.  Even though I can say I have watched it at least 10 times during the many training and orientation days, it still makes me tear up a little to see the kids having such a good time doing things they would not be able to do without the camp.  After watching the video, Brittani was ready to sign up to volunteer right then and there.

We headed into camp to the Fuel Stop to join the campers for lunch.  There is just something about the camp atmosphere that strikes visitors.  It is a feeling really hard to explain but if you’ve visited the camp you know exactly what I am talking about.  Every building is unique and splashed with an array of bright colors contributing to the high energy and welcoming environment.

The atmosphere inside the Fuel Stop was no different.  Kids filled the tables, sitting with their cabin mates and new friends, to talk about things such as their favorite things they had done so far and what they were most looking forward to.

After lunch the kids headed to their cabins to recharge, while we began our tour.  While I was pretty familiar with all the program areas, it was great to see Matt and Brittani as they realized this was not your normal summer camp.

“They are making it like an amusement park and not a camp,” Matt said.

Our first stop was the Michael Waltrip Gym where the kids can play basketball, table tennis, and a variety of other games.  Next we headed to the Silver Theatre where Stage Day happens.  All the kids are given the opportunity to get on stage and do anything – sing, dance, tell jokes, or even just stand there.  No matter what they do, the audience will show its support.  We then made stops at Jimmie Johnson’s Bowling Lanes, Arts & Crafts, Mini-Golf, The Tony Stewart Maze, and the swimming pool.  The pool itself is like a water park complete with lazy river, slide, and sprinklers.

Preparations were being made for camper favorite NASCARnival.  That night kids would get the chance to experience hot air balloon rides, pit stop demonstrations from real NASCAR teams and special treats – ice cream, snow cones, popcorn, and doughnuts.

Our tour wouldn’t be complete with out a stop at the most unique building, Adam’s Race Shop.  The Race Shop is shaped and painted like Adam Petty’s racecar – bright red, purple, green and yellow.  Inside the Race Shop kids can sit in real NASCAR racecars, practice a pit stop, race on simulators or just sit back and relax.

Our final stop of the tour was one of the most important places in camp – the Body Shop.  Designed like a car garage, the Body Shop is stocked with medical equipment that allows kids with special needs to attend camp.  The nurses and doctors at camp, who blend in with counselors, can help a camper with anything from dialysis to chemotherapy all in a very informal environment.

Before we left, we stopped back at the Administration building to drop off teddy bears.  Every child who comes to camp leaves with an afghan and teddy bear.  As part of the camp’s sewing program, thousands of hand-sewn bears are generously donated each year to make this a possible but our tour guide mentioned they were running low on bears at the moment. 

It was great to be back at camp for a visit.  Seeing old friends and a few former campers really made me miss being at camp more than I thought possible.  Being at camp always pulls on the heartstrings when you see the good that is being done there.  It makes you never want to leave.

Even first time visitors like Brittani feel the desire to stay.

“After touring the site and talking with our tour guide, I was just truly moved,” Brittani said.  “I would really love to be a counselor.  I love how the NASCAR industry has played a significant roll in developing the camp and continuing to keep it flourishing and are able to bring in so many children and really just change their lives. I would love to be a part of that.”

I know my involvement with camp is not done.  I’ll continue to be involved through volunteering for Family Weekends or donating.  To see the smiles that the camp puts on the children’s faces truly makes any contribution worthwhile.

-Mary Katherine Dowd

The children of one of the poorest communities in South Carolina had their NASCAR Dreams come true when they were treated to their very first NASCAR race by The NASCAR Foundation.

Eleven children from the Blackmon Road Community, in grades ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade, got to enjoy a fun-filled day at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Race on May 22.

Leaving home early, the children were greeted with pizza and snacks when they arrived at the track.  After the special lunch, a tram took them on a tour of the facility where they were given the opportunity to stop and play on inflatable slides and in bounce houses at the Powerade Play Zone before heading to their seats for the excitement of the race.

“All the kids picked a number for their driver and edged each other on about who was doing better,” said Karen McKernan, executive director of A Place for Hope, the community’s resource center.
 
The community’s residents live without indoor plumbing, without trash pick-up, without paved roads and without street lights.  A Place for Hope, which received a new playground as part of NASCAR Day’s “Big Five” community projects, was established to provide programs to the residents of the Blackmon Road Community that help and inspire them to rise above their current living conditions.  After school tutoring is provided to the children and the adults receive evening education and job training. 

“Being able to go to the NASCAR race helps the kids to be introduced to things outside the community,” said McKernan.  “Even though the community is less than three-fourths of a mile from the main city (Rock Hill, S.C.), they have very limited experiences.  It shows them there is more to life than their own four walls and a leaky roof and that they can make a living doing anything.”

Next up for the children of Blackmon Road will be A Place for Hope’s eight-week academic and athletic focused summer camp.  The children, who are now all on the A/B Honor Roll, will get their chance to continue their studies during the summer while incorporating the fun of activities like basketball and swimming.

Taylor Day, a high school student from Las Vegas, Nevada, was chosen out of all the students in her school to attend a Pole Position event in Las Vegas, Nevada and meet NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver Kurt Busch. Taylor is a part of a group of students who study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) curriculum.

Taylor told The NASCAR Foundation about her very exciting experience!

The NASCAR Foundation(TNF): Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Taylor Day (TD): I am sixteen and a junior in high school. I live in Las Vegas, Nevada and have been living here for about nine years. I have always been interested in cars for as long as I could remember. My all time dream car is a Chevy Corvette; any year, any color, doesn’t matter to me. I am many interested in muscle cars such as Ford Mustangs or Dodge Challengers.

TNF: At what age did you start watching NASCAR racing?
TD: I’ve always been interested in cars but I never really got into NASCAR until my freshman year. My grandpa watches it all the time so I just decided to watch it with him one year and I was pulled into the NASCAR experience. From then on, I started learning the names of individual drivers and such.

TNF: How does it feel to have had the experience with Kurt Busch?
TD: It was actually one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in my life so far. I felt very lucky to have had the opportunity to race with Kurt Busch. He is an amazing driver and to know that I got to drive on a track with a bunch of the best drivers out there in NASCAR was just mind blowing. I couldn’t ask for a better way to spend my Thursday evening.

TNF: What did you think when you found out you had been selected to participate in this experience?
TD: I was actually really shocked that I was chosen. Out of all of the students at my school, I was extremely surprised to know that I was the one student who got to participate in the experience. I didn’t even think I had a chance to be chosen at all because there are just so many other students who would have given anything to experience this. But I am very grateful that I was chosen and it was a significant experience in my life.

TNF: What knowledge have you gained from this experience that you will carry with you into the future?
TD: Well I have had the opportunity to see how great NASCAR really is. This experience has shown me that great opportunities can come even to those who don’t believe they have any chance in the world to participate in such an event as that.

TNF: Describe your reaction to seeing Kurt Busch in Las Vegas.
TD: I was absolutely mind-blown when I saw Kurt Busch in person for the first time. I was very starstruck to have seen Kurt and I was very nervous because I couldn’t exactly find the right words to approach him with. He is like a celebrity in the NASCAR world that I felt very lucky to have been able to meet him.

TNF: Have you always been a Kurt Busch Fan? Are you a fan of any other drivers?
TD: I guess you could say that I have been a fan. When it comes to NASCAR, I don’t exactly have a favorite driver. But I do enjoy watching other drivers such as Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Tony Stewart.
 

Team members from the Martinsville High School Bulldogs basketball team volunteered at the NASCAR Day booth at Martinsville Speedway in 2006!

Be sure to stop by the booth this weekend at Martinsville Speedway to get your 2010 NASCAR Day pin!

Opossums are not always known to be the friendliest of animals. However, as in most cases, there are always exceptions to the rule.

Meet our exception.

NASCAR Foundation Fan Ambassador Mona Hedrick first introduced us to George Possum (who prefers the southern title of “possum” over the more grammatically correct opossum) at Nashville Superspeedway NASCAR Day pin booth in 2007. Since then, George has become one of our most popular volunteers and has attended 4 track walks and volunteered numerous hours at NASCAR Day booths across the Southeast! George has also participated in the NASCAR Day playground build in Charlotte in 2008 and volunteered at Victory Junction Gang Camp.

This weekend, George attracted many a NASCAR Fan to the NASCAR Day booth at the Nationwide Display at Bristol Motor Speedway – including a few dogs who wanted to make friends. Next stops for George: Nashville Superspeedway on April 3rd, Talladega Superspeedway April 24th and 25th , and Highland Rim Speedway’s NASCAR Day on May 22nd. 

“It’s true that running into a possum at a NASCAR event is enough to make folks take a second look," George said. "I love traveling around and meeting new dogs and people… and discovered that my unique charm and charisma is a great way to tell everyone about NASCAR Day and the great things the organization does for the kids!  I’m looking forward to all my road trips this year.  But I’m mostly excited about participating in the Carolina Big Five NASCAR Day event and helping out the Blackmon Road Community in Rock Hill, SC.  If you see me ‘hanging around’ at the track, come on over and introduce yourself!  I don’t bite.”

Join George and Mona as members of our volunteer family and sign up to volunteer today! Visit WWW.NASCAR.COM/NASCARDay to learn more!

NASCAR Dreams is a season-long program of The NASCAR Foundation that seeks to make children and families’ dreams come true by providing them with once-in-a-lifetime experiences at the track.

Debbie Howell and her daughter Stephanie had their NASCAR Dreams come true at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 13, when they got the chance to be driven around the Speedway in the pace car by Steph's favorite driver and former Daytona 500 Champion and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion, Matt Kenseth!

"I just want to thank you for the opportunity to ride with Matt. It was my daughter's best day of her life and it's way up there for me too! What an awesome experience. As always, Matt was such a gentleman and talked to Steph during the ride while I sat in back hanging on to my dear life! You made a dream come true!"

-Debbie

The Dream was made possible through a partnership with Motor Racing Outreach.

So as myself and two other gals here at The NASCAR Foundation prepare for our annual 7 hour trek down to Daytona for a weekend of work at the 500, we’ve added a new element to the tasks at hand. Our faithful webmaster and creative designer - Jennifer aka “Jenny from the Block” - is a die hard Harry Connick Jr. fan. Now, I know I’ve been reading some mixed comments from NASCAR fans about Harry singing the National Anthem at the 500 this year, but let me tell you, for Jenny, this is going to be the highlight of her year. Not only will she get to see Harry on Valentine’s Day, but she had also already purchased her tickets for his performance on Fat Tuesday, the following Tuesday! Twice in the span of a week. Trust me, Jenny was the first to let all of the Foundation staffers know the news that Harry would actually be in Daytona this weekend, along with all her other favorite NASCAR celebs (including her favorite driver of course, Dale Earnhardt Jr.).

So, what does all this mean you might ask? For us, we have a dual purpose this weekend in Daytona - to come down, roll up our sleeves and get to work sharing the message of NASCAR Day and collecting donations that will in turn help children live better lives through various programs AND to help Jenny find Harry. There’s two ways you can help us accomplish both of these tasks. First, tweet and update people when you find one of our six booths at the track. We will be out in force with the brand new 2010 NASCAR Day pins (a collector’s item!). Second, tweet or update us if you have a Harry spotting at the track. Trust me, you would help make Jenny’s year!

Check back throughout the week as we document our trip down to Daytona. Our estimated arrival time in Daytona tomorrow is around 5pm, pending any major traffic congestions that we might encounter along the way.

Thank you for your continued support. If you’re in Daytona this week, please stop by our booths to say hi! We love meeting all of you!

See you at the 500!

Sarah