Drivers that compete in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series lead extremely busy lives. Various sponsor commitments, team responsibilities, practice, and testing all consume a great deal of time. Certainly, drivers also desire time with family and friends. Despite busy lifestyles, most drivers find time to support special causes. Dale Jarrett, Jeff Gordon, and Tony Stewart have each started their own foundations to support their charitable commitments.
In January 2006, NASCAR formed its own foundation. The NASCAR Foundation supports a variety of causes including the well-known Victory Junction Gang Camp started by Kyle Petty in honor of his late son Adam. For a number of years NASCAR has supported various charitable organizations with its annual NASCAR Day. The annual event has generated more than $1.3 million through the sale of pins through NASCAR.com, as well as large-group participation from more than 3,000 company locations across the country.
The NASCAR Foundation created a new event for the 2007 NASCAR Day to be held on Friday, May 18. A joint effort between drivers, NASCAR, and some broadcast partners has resulted in the first ever NASCAR Day Telethon. The telethon will give fans a chance to speak with their favorite drivers and to make a donation to a charitable cause of their choice.
The live event will take place at the Sam Bass Gallery which is located next to the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. A number of drivers are scheduled to participate. Dale Jarrett, driver of the UPS Toyota, is one of the drivers that will be taking calls. Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Elliott Sadler will also participate.
"This is something that's obviously going to be a little different for us, but I think it is going to be fun," Jarrett said. "We're all very fortunate to be in a position to do something that we love for a living and something that has afforded us the opportunity to help out when and where we can. Anytime we can throw in a little fun, like I believe this event will be, then it's just a great opportunity."
By calling 1-888-May18th (1-888-629-1884) on NASCAR Day and making a donation, fans will be helping more than 30 driver, team, and track charities that the Foundation supports year round. Any fan that mentions his or her favorite driver or NASCAR charity will have 100 percent of that donation go directly to the driver’s designated charity. Each person that pledges at least $25 will automatically become a Friend of the Foundation and will receive a 2007 NASCAR Day lapel pin. The first 100 people to pledge $100 to their favorite driver charity will receive an incentive item from that driver. For the driver that has the most callers and raises the most funds in their name, the NASCAR Foundation will match, up to $10,000, the funds raised during the NASCAR Day telethon.
Jarrett's favorite charity is the Dale Jarrett Foundation which distributes funds to organizations such as Make-A-Wish, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and the Victory Junction Gang Camp.
Fans interested in listening to telethon activities can listen on SIRIUS Satellite Radio beginning at 7 a.m. Marty Snider and David Poole of “The Morning Drive” will broadcast live from the site of the telethon. In addition, SPEED, which is providing the live broadcast of the NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge, will do live cut-ins throughout the day. NASCAR.com will also stream SIRIUS' broadcasts as well as provide original video content on its homepage all day.
