#NASCAR Better Half Dash #BetterHalfDash

Annual Charlotte Event Raises Money for Charity

Girls, have at it! When racing returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 8th, the ladies of #NASCAR will add their own element of speed, danger and fun to Bank of America 500 Week when they take to the front stretch quarter-mile for the third annual Better Half Dash on Bojangles' Pole Night.

In this race for charity, each participant raised money prior to the event, with the highest-earner winning the opportunity to pick her starting spot for the race.

Select your favorite driver featured below and then click "Donate"  to donate online securely via PayPal.   Help your driver raise the most money so they can select their starting spot for the 2015 #BetterHalfDash fun race!

Ashley Deihl Stremme

Wife of David Stremme

Hometown: Mifflintown, PA

Spotter: Frank Bolter & David Stremme

Sponsor: T.B.A.

Special Supporters: My husband David, my parents Joe & Dianne, as well as my entire family and friends. Also my awesome sponsors who came onboard with me this year. Lastly, but certainly not least, Winged Nation friends and my entire dirt track racing family!

Winning Strategy: Stand on the loud peddle, turn left, don't jump the cushion and bring home that trophy again! ;)

Jenna Robinson

Wife of Clay Robinson

Hometown: Santa Clarita, California

Spotter: Clay Robinson

Sponsors: T.B.A.

Special Thanks: My awesome family and friends for all their support!

Winning Strategy: Take all the advice I get and throw it out the window and go fast and use my front bumper!

Jordan Fish

Girlfriend of Denny Hamlin

Hometown: Fort Mill, SC

Spotter: Denny Hamlin

Sponsors: T.B.A.

Special Supporters: My awesome family and friends for all their support!

Winning Strategy: My other half & best friend, Denny, our beautiful and fun loving daughter Taylor James. His parents, Big Denny and Momma Lou. My dad Dennis, and his wife, Rita. My mom & biggest supporter, Sharon. My sisters and brother-in-laws Linsey & Josh Nealey and Dana & David Richardson. My nieces and nephews: Hannah, Rebekah & Nathan Richardson, and of course my newest and most sweetest nephew, Asher Nealey.

Twitter: missjfish

Facebook: www.facebook.com/xojordanfish

Blog: xojordan.com

Kristen Yeley

Wife of JJ Yeley

Home Town: Charlotte, NC

Sponsors: T.B.A

Special Supporters: My wonderful husband JJ and daughter Faith Anne.

Everyone who had voted and donated for me last year in the dash for the poll! Let's get it this year!

Winning Strategy: Run my lines-not someone else's! That's what kept me in p2 last year.

Twitter: kristenyeley

Shannon Koch

Wife of Blake Koch

Sponsor: Leaf FilterGutter Protection

Bio: My name is Shannon Koch from West Palm Beach, Florida. I have been married to Blake Koch for 5 years and we have 2 little cuties, Carter 3 and Bailey 1. This is my second time competing in the Better Half Dash and I am so excited to race and raise money for such a great organization.

Race Strategy: To win.

Twitter: @ShannonLKoch

Facebook: Shannon Crytzer Koch

Instagram: @ShannyLKoch

Whitney Scott

Wife of Brian Scott

Sponsor: RIMZ One

Race Strategy: Drive it like I stole it!

Bio: Coming Soon!

Twitter: whitneykay_

Instagram: Whitneykayscott

Blog: www.whitneykayscott.wordpress.com

On a personal note - NASCAR Race Mom wishes she were entered in this field of #nascar ladies!

Rhett Lee Smith - Enjoying His New Gift

The Smiths welcomed their son, Rhett Lee into the world on Wednesday, February 25th 2015, an off day for NASCAR drivers. 

Here is a photo of the five-month-old enjoying his new gift from @EarnhardtKelley. 

Dad, Regan Smith will start today’s XFINITY Series’ Lakes Region 200 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway from eighth on the starting grid. 

He has one NASCAR Sprint Cup win in 2011 and four Xfinity Series wins (1 each in 2012 & 2014 and 2 in 2013)

Scarlett Joins Dad in Kentucky #NASCAR XFINITY Victory Lane

On Friday night, Brad Keselowski welcomed daughter Scarlett to the NASCAR world following his win in the NASCAR XFINITY Series Kentucky 300.


Daughter Scarlett made her debut in the arms of mom Paige White, and the moment was a bit much for Keselowski, who earned a Crosley jukebox for his 32nd career XFINITY win which put him clear of NASCAR Hall of Famer Jack Ingram for sole possession of fifth on the all-time list.

A first time winner here @KySpeedway as @keselowski @epaigewhite introduce little Scarlett to Victory Lane. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/6wUjpVgxgL

— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) July 11, 2015

21st Kyle Petty Charity Ride Leaves Santa Cruz on Saturday (#nascar)

Cross-country motorcycle trek has raised more than $16 million for Victory Junction Gang Camp 

 

NBC Sports NASCAR analyst and former NASCAR driver Kyle Petty will lead 200 motorcyclists along the seven-day / 2,500 mile route — stretching from Santa Cruz, California, to Branson, Missouri — to raise funds and awareness for Victory Junction, a camp created to enrich the lives of children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses.

“Each year, we select a route that’s full of breathtaking scenery, while also allowing us to spread the word and build excitement around our mission along the way,” Petty said. “Year after year, the Ride creates lasting memories for our riders, most importantly, it provides life-changing opportunities for children at Victory Junction.”

The bottom line, of course, is charity. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the Ride has raised more than $16 million for the Petty family’s Victory Junction Gang Camp and other children’s-related charities. The 84-acre camp near Greensboro, N.C., is for children suffering from terminal or chronic diseases that disqualify them from mainstream camp.

The Petty family opened it in 2004 to honor the late Adam Petty, Lee’s great-grandson, Richard’s grandson and Kyle’s son. Just 19, Adam was killed during a single-car practice crash at Loudon, N.H., on May 12, 2000.

As a result of the Kyle Petty Charity Ride, 7,815 children have attended Victory Junction at no cost to their families. The camp has served as the ride’s primary beneficiary since its establishment by Kyle Petty in 2004 in honor of his late son Adam.

“We’d love to have as many members of the community to come out and join us at the fuel stop,” said Liza Jones, public relations for the ride. “Kyle will be on hand to sign autographs and take pictures with fans.”

Last year, NASCAR Race Mom (NRM) was luckily enough to meet up with Kyle Petty and his best buddy Rutledge Wood before the 2014 Charity Ride in Carlsbad, California. 

This year’s plan is to join the group for a day in Bakersfield. NRM participate in the event by purchasing ride memorabilia and of course to make a donation to Victory Junction.

About Victory Junction

Victory Junction is a year-round camping environment for children, ages six to 16, with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. Co-founded by the Kyle Petty family, in honor of his son, Adam Petty, the camp is located in Randleman, North Carolina. Victory Junction exists to provide life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering, in a safe and medically-sound environment, always free of charge.

This year, many celebrities plan to participate in all or part of the 21st Anniversary Ride, including:

• Richard Petty, NASCAR hall of fame and seven-time champion
• Matt Kenseth, NASCAR driver
• Harry Gant, NASCAR legend
• Donnie Allison, NASCAR legend
• Herschel Walker, former NFL great
• Matt Levatich, Harley-Davidson, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer
• Rick Allen, NBC Sports NASCAR analyst
• Rutledge Wood, co-host of History Channel’s Top Gear America and NASCAR personality 

Visit kylepettycharityride.com/donate.php to contribute

For more information, please visit www.kylepettycharityride.com.

Ella and Leo Gordon - a.k.a. Jeff Gordon's Kids - Gave A Pretty Great Starting Command

It was a memorable moment for Gordon, who drives the No. 24 Chevrolet SS for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

"Highlight for me. The day couldn't be bad after that. That was so, so cool, and they nailed it. I'm just so, so proud of them," said Gordon. "So funny, and Leo, he had to put his little engine rev in there at the end, which I thought just kind of put it over the top. As soon as the red flag came, I went back to the bus and rewound it and watched it with them, and they were just beaming."

#NASCAR Drivers Giving Back Great Job Smoke!

This is one of the reasons NASCAR Race Mom Loves #NASCAR

We received a package from Tony Stewart! It was delivered by a couple of Vincennes Police Officers, DJ Halter, and Ben Hammond. Thank you so much! Nathan loved it.
Posted by Nathan's Courageous Battle on Saturday, 18 April 2015

Nominate Now for the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award #nascar

Do you know of a great volunteer making an impact in the lives of children? Everyone is encouraged to nominate an outstanding volunteer in your community for The NASCAR Foundation's Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award presented by Nationwide, the sport's highest community service honor.

 Learn more and nominate at NASCAR.com/award by May 8, 2015! 

So what is the award process? Why does YOUR support matter? From the collective nominations made by NASCAR fans like you, four finalists will be selected and announced in the fall of 2015, and the winner - determined by online fan vote - will receive a $100,000 donation from The NASCAR Foundation to the children's charity they represent. And since the award's inception in 2011, The NASCAR Foundation has awarded $700,000 to charities in honor of 16 remarkable finalists. That is more than 52,000 children helped by the donations made to the charities they support!

Plus, they have made it is easy for you to spread the word to your contacts. Just use the below sample tweet and post to encourage your social network contacts to submit their nominations!

Share with Twitter:

Do you know a NASCAR fan championing a kid's cause? Nominate your volunteer for @NASCAR_FDN @nationwide88 #BJFHAward. nas.cr/Award

Share with Facebook

Hey #NASCAR Friends, The NASCAR Foundation's Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award presented by Nationwide honors volunteers that dedicate themselves to improving the lives of children through a charitable organization. Nominate your everyday champion making a difference #forthekids today by visiting http://nas.cr/Award. #BJFHAward

New Racer in the Kahne Family

Uncle Kasey is busy helping his nephew get ready for his first race earlier this month in North Carolina.

Kasey Kahne finished Eighth for the Great Clips team last weekend at the Texas Motor Speedway.  The team remains fifth in the Sprint Cup Point Standings.

NASCAR Honors Moms with Launch of First Mother’s Day Campaign

Fans Encouraged to Share Photos of the NASCAR Experiences They Had With Mom For a Chance to Win Once-In-A-Lifetime NASCAR-Themed Prizes

Family has always been a pillar of NASCAR®, as the sport was built by the contributions of iconic family names such as France, Petty, Earnhardt and Jarrett. From nurturing young drivers in their aspirations for a career in motorsports, to bringing families together at the track, to celebrating in Victory Lane, moms have served as the bedrock of NASCAR. 

To further celebrate this tradition and spirit, NASCAR today launched “NASCAR with Mom,” a Mother’s Day initiative aimed at sharing and celebrating memorable NASCAR moments with Mom.

Leading up to Mother’s Day Weekend – through the #NASCARwithMOM sweepstakes supported by NASCAR’s Official Partners 3M, Ford and Goodyear – fans are encouraged to share their most memorable NASCAR Mom photos on social media using the hashtag #NASCARwithMOM or by visiting www.NASCAR.com/NASCARwithMOM for the opportunity to win a once-in-a-lifetime NASCAR experience.

The Grand Prize package includes a ride in the Goodyear Blimp and an all-inclusive VIP experience for two during the 2015 Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, including tickets with VIP access. Additionally, five first place prize winners will receive a NASCAR Racing Experience Qualifier for two. Fans can enter to win starting today through May 9 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

“Mothers have made an indelible impact on our sport since the moment it was founded in 1947 – from the legacies of Anne B. France and Lynda Petty to the modern-day accomplishments of others like Teresa and Kelley Earnhardt,” said Kim Brink, NASCAR senior vice president, marketing. “NASCAR with Mom honors the moments and memories fans and families in NASCAR have had with their mothers, and recognizes the critical role moms will play in the future of our sport.”

NASCAR Race Mom in by the garages with NASCAR Driver
Moses Smith - her oldest son.

During Mother’s Day weekend, NASCAR, 3M, Ford and Goodyear will be also surprising moms and their children with unique experiences at the Acceleration Nation Experience at the track leading up to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™, SpongeBob SquarePants 400 race at Kansas Speedway.

Click here to Check out one of my
fondest racing memories with my son

FORT WORTH, Texas (April 6, 2015) – special guest riding along with him during Friday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. American Diabetes Association Youth Ambassador Will Golden’s name is featured on a decal above the passenger-side door on the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes American Diabetes Association Ford Mustang.

Will, from Keller, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on February 15, 2011 at age eight. However, just like Reed, 12-year-old Will has not let diabetes slow him down. He is a sports fanatic who especially loves playing basketball and soccer.

Will’s efforts to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes earned him the title of Kiwanis Junior Hero while living in Quincy, Mass. As one of four students diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at his former elementary school, Will participated in a walk to cure diabetes that has raised over $100,000. He also helped with the creation of a community service video that educates people on the signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes.

Will lives by the motto, “Never give up, never give in.”

The ‘Riding with Ryan’ program kicks off this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway and will continue throughout the 2015 NASCAR XFINITY Series season.

“I’m honored to have Will riding along on the car this weekend as the first American Diabetes Association Youth Ambassador of the season,” said Reed. “Will’s strong tie to his local community and efforts to raise awareness of the disease are inspiring to those of us that live with type 1 diabetes. Being able to recognize individuals like Will for their work in the diabetes community is one of my favorite parts of partnering with the American Diabetes Association and Lilly Diabetes on the Drive to Stop DiabetesSM program.”

Reed and the rest of the NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers take the green flag from Texas Motor Speedway on Friday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. CDT on FS1 and PRN. - 

Source

Photo Credit: Doug Pensinger/Getty Image

The Camping World Truck Series is a proving ground for young drivers to hone and showcase their skills.

The Gordon Family

Jeff Gordon and his kids (Leo Benjamin and Ella Sofia) walk down the runway at a recent NASCAR Race.

The #NASCAR Foundation’s Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award presented by Nationwide

On March 10, the NASCAR Foundation launched the nomination phase for the fifth year of The NASCAR Foundation’s Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award presented by Nationwide. This is a year-long process consisting of a nomination phase, the finalists’ voting campaigns, and our exciting award announcement during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards in Las Vegas.

The NASCAR Foundation’s Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award presented by Nationwide honors everyday champions and NASCAR fans whose volunteer efforts turn kids into winners, no matter what kind of challenges they face. Did you know that since the award’s inception, The NASCAR Foundation has awarded $700,000 to charities in honor of sixteen remarkable finalists? And more than 52,000 children have been helped through their combined efforts!

Since the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award launched in 2011, they have seen some great results! Results can be seen through the impact The NASCAR Foundation has been able to make through their donations to the finalist and winner charities.

Members of our race communities have also been able to engage with the humanitarian award in ways that benefits them as well - mainly by promoting finalists throughout the fan vote and building stronger relationships with them and their local charities and group affiliations. This all starts with the nomination phase. 

Click Here To Nominate That Someone Special

Daniel Noltemeyer, 2014 Winner
Best Buddies Kentucky

• Kentucky Speedway embraced Daniel as a finalist for the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award, inviting him to the track for a VIP tour of the facility and recording a video that they used for promotion throughout the voting phase.
• The track promoted Daniel through social media, email inclusion, and press releases highlighting his visit to the track and winning the award.
• Best Buddies Kentucky also leveraged the celebrity relationships that their national organization had, resulting in independent tweets from Maria Shriver, Food Network’s Guy Fieri, and Glee’s Lauren Potter.

Raffle for Childhood Cancer Research.

Larry Graff is motivated by Jackson Panzarello's fight against cancer. Not a day goes by where Jackson's memory isn't guiding, inspiring, and urging him to always “Fight On.” Jackson was just ten- years-old when he passed away in 2012.

Graff has raised nearly $95,000 to benefit pediatric cancer charities such as the Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation, Kick It, and CureSearch.

This February raffle is truly unique because of the Grand Prize. #NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon autographed an AARP uniform jacket for this fundraising raffle.

However, the AARP jacket is just one of ten prize packages in this upcoming drawing.

Tickets are on sale now for just $6 each and only 500 tickets can be sold.

All donations benefit the Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation for childhood cancer research and treatment. Drawing will be conducted by Karsyn Bratch, 12, who has battled cancer for more than half of her life. This Raffle is open to U.S. and Canadian addresses only with FREE shipping to U.S. addresses.

Our vision is that there will be a day when no child will face the uncertainty of cancer, and that successful treatments will not result in negative, long-term effects. Your support will directly impact our ability to reach that vision as quickly as possible.- Jeff Gordon

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Click Here for Full Raffle Prize Details/Entry

FEBRUARY 23 RAFFLE PRIZES
 

1. Grand Prize
   AUTOGRAPHED Drive To End Hunger uniform jacket + JGCF diecast
2. Prize #2
   AUTOGRAPHED Jeff Gordon Pepsi Max hero card + 1996 hero card + 2 JG Fan Club newsletters (1999)
3. Prize #3
   All 3 race programs from Jeff's Daytona 500 victories (1997, 1999, 2005)
4. Prize #4
   AUTOGRAPHED Jeff Gordon Pepsi Max hero card + 1996 Daytona 8x10 pic + 1997 JG 8x10 pic
5. Prize #5
   1998 DuPont Motorsports media kit, June 1994 NASCAR Illustrated issue
6. Prize #6
   1990 Jeff Gordon #4 Sprint Car t-shirt (M) - NEW! (white AND coral)
7. Prize #7
   1994 Brickyard win tanktop (XL), 1994 Brickyard pace car 1:24 diecast AND 1:64 diecast [view], 1995 JG bumper sticker
8. Prize #8
   'Property of Jeff Gordon Racing' t-shirt (1992). RARE!
9. Prize #9
   1999 Pepsi magnet, 2014 JGCF diecast, 1995 JG postcard set, Hendrick Marrow wristband
10. Prize #10  Jeff Gordon mystery package
    

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Danica at the Hall of Fame January 25, 2015

The King to Model?

We’ve seen “The King” do a lot for Charity, but we’ve never seen him as a fashion model! Rumor has it that you will find Richard Petty walking the runway at the Petty Family Foundation’s “Hot Pass to Fashion” Challenge & Red Carpet event at UNC Greensboro on Saturday!

Click Here For tickets