The kids had a great time this morning with our DRIVE4COPD friends, all of the drivers who came out, and Sam Bass - NASCAR's 1st Officially Licensed Artist at Phoenix International Raceway! (via The NASCAR Foundation Facebook)

DRIVE4COPD is a multi-year public health initiative to screen the millions of people who may be at risk for COPD. As many as 24 million Americans have COPD but approximately half don't know it and remain undiagnosed.

Led by the COPD Foundation, DRIVE4COPD aims to help people identify symptoms of COPD and take action. This large-scale education and awareness campaign is working to help bring COPD to the forefront.

NASCAR AND NHRA STARS TO “PAINT THE TRACK PINK™”

This month, the hottest color in motorsports will be pink when the biggest stars in racing take the track to show their support for those affected by breast cancer.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr “Paint the Track Pink” #17

As part of Lionel Racing’s “Paint the Track Pink” initiative, drivers like Greg Biffle, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Courtney Force and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will drive pink race cars as they battle for the win during breast cancer awareness month. “The color pink is now a universally recognized show of support for breast cancer victims and survivors,” said Howard Hitchcock, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Lionel Racing.

With the most popular drivers in both NASCAR and the NHRA driving ‘Paint the Track Pink’ cars, the entire racing community is going to make a strong statement of on-track support that fans can get behind, as well as raise awareness and funds for an important breast cancer charity, Hitchcock continued.

Not only will the pink cars on track serve as a reminder that there is still work to be done in fighting this disease, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each “Paint the Track Pink” die-cast will benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF), a Texas-based charity that works to increase awareness through education, provide diagnostic breast care services for those in need, and provide support services. 

We are excited to partner with Lionel Racing, the official die-cast of NASCAR,” said NBCF Senior Vice President of Development, Brent Hail. “This promotion not only educates race fans about the importance of early detection, but the funds raised will help provide mammograms and early detection services for women in need.

Drivers participating in the “Paint the Track Pink” program include:

• Dale Earnhardt Jr. - National Guard Pink in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Martinsville.
• Greg Biffle - 3M Pink in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Martinsville.
• Brittany Force - Castrol Edge Pink at the NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove.
• Courtney Force - Traxxas Pink at the NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove.
• Danica Patrick - GoDaddy Pink in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series beginning at Kansas.
• Regan Smith - Fire Alarm Services Pink in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kansas.
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - Driven Pink in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race at Martinsville.
• Brad Sweet - Great Clips Pink in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kansas.

“Paint the Track Pink” die-cast cars are now available for pre-order through LionelRacing.com, the NASCAR.com Superstore, and authorized die-cast dealers. 

NASCAR AND NHRA STARS TO “PAINT THE TRACK PINK™” FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

FIRST and 3M team up with NASCAR driver Greg Biffle

What do science education and sports car racing have in common? Hundreds of kids and parents will find out this Sunday, August 18, during the Pure Michigan 400 Sprint Cup Race as FIRST and 3M team up with NASCAR driver Greg Biffle to ignite kids’ passion in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

Families will rally around the track in Brooklyn, Michigan to watch Biffle race the No. 16 Ford Fusion, vying for a winning spot with just four races left before the season cut-off. During this race, Biffle will prominently display the red, white and blue FIRST logo on the hood of his car. Biffle is helping the organization and partner, 3M, educate families about the exciting career connection between science and sports. 

Families are in for a fast-paced thrill this weekend,” said Biffle. “Just as FIRST offers robotic competitions that combine the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology, the FIRST teams and their families will learn ‘first hand’ that speed racing is also based on the application of building and engineering fast-paced machines, offering heart-pounding lessons in innovation.

Biffle’s awareness efforts at the NASCAR event will underscore a long-standing collaboration that 3M and FIRST have based on a common goal: to inspire young, innovative and creative minds to explore science and technology via hands-on robotics challenges.

Be sure to tune into ESPN on Sunday, August 18th at 1PM ET to see the No. 16 FIRST Ford Fusion car in action!

NASCAR’s Greg Biffle Races to Victory

Give Kids A Smile paint scheme

Father’s Day victory: NASCAR’s Greg Biffle and his daughter show off their smiles before the start of the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 16. Mr. Biffle won the race in his No. 16 3M car that featured a Give Kids A Smile paint scheme.

Smiles: Dr. Robert Faiella, ADA president, left, and Dr. Jeff Dalin, Give Kids A Smile cofounder, right, present NASCAR’s Greg Biffle with the dinosaur teaching tool used at the GKAS/NASCAR dental education booth during race weekend at Michigan International Speedway.

Education day: NASCAR’s Greg Biffle meets with kids from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Lenawee County, Mich., during a GKAS/NASCAR dental education event June 15 at Michigan International Speedway. The kids received oral health education and goody bags with education materials, floss, toothpaste, Trident gum, a die-cast model of Greg’s No. 16 3M car with the GKAS logo and an ARM & HAMMER Spinbrush, donated by Church & Dwight. GKAS/NASCAR sponsors include the ADA and ADA Foundation, Henry Schein Cares and 3M ESPE Dental.

Source

NASCAR Royalty Helps Fight Hunger

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — Greg Biffle was among the Nascar greats helping some school kids spend $13,000 at the Just Save food store in North Wilkesboro.

He joined Nascar legends Bobby Allison and Junior Johnson as they helped raise funds for the Second Harvest Food Bank.

As for the Nascar royalty in attendance, they enjoyed giving back.

The kids enjoyed getting their autographs.

Source

Tony StewartCoca-Cola Racing Google+ Hangout

Tony Stewart getting ready to answer a question from NASCAR Race Mom

Did you attend the Google+ Hangout with Coca-Cola Racing Family Championship contenders Greg Biffle, Tony Stewart, and Denny Hamlin? If not you can still view the entire event by watching the YouTube version below.

Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle, Kyle Petty, Elliott Sadler, Cassie Laberee, Niki Nikolopoulos,  Tom Rolfson, Valerie Anderle, and Bob Pockrass, were in attendance. While NASCAR Race Mom was not chosen to participate live, I was allowed to submit a question. Additionally, NASCAR Race Mom’s blog contest winner’s question was also asked.

Both our questions were answered by NASCAR Star, Tony Stewart. 

NASCAR Race Mom: As a NASCAR Race Mom myself, I recently enjoyed a photo of your mom participating in a go-kart. You {Tony}, looked about eight years old and served as her starter. What advice did you give your mom before that powder puff event and how did she finish?

Tony Stewart: She actually won that day, but I did not give her any advice. My dad was the one that was giving her the advice. I just didn’t want her to get hurt because I wanted to be sure that she cooked dinner that night. Nah she may have been the one of my parents that actually had the driving talent. She was pretty good when she would run those races at the go-kart track. It was a lot of fun. I know exactly the picture that you are talking about. I was probably 8 or 9. It was something that we did not get to do a lot of, but that was one thing as a family that we did; my sister, my mother, my father and I, we all went go-kart racing together when I was young. We had a lot of good times.

Nancy S (Blog Contest Winner): After viewing the wreck in Talladega, “Do you ever get scared?”

Tony Stewart: No, I am scared of not being in a race car in all reality. I have been racing for thirty-three years now and it just part of racing; it is just part of what happens. The worst part of that was that I was the one who made the mistake that caused twenty-four other guys to have a bad day. That was probably what worried me more than just being in the wreck itself.

You can see the entire Google+ Hangout with Coca-Cola Racing Family Championship contenders below:

*** Disclosure: Coca Cola Racing and NASCAR Race Mom, support ethical blogging and strict adherence to the FTC guidelines pertaining to free samples and gifts. As a participant in a Coca Cola Racing campaign, NASCAR Race Mom was compensated by Coca Cola Racing via product. However, NRM would have been pleased to share this news with my readers without said compensation. ***

More than 16 million kids have some sort of dental disease; a number Greg Biffle hopes to reduce. (Give Kids A Smile)  

   

Getting kids to smile
one mouth at a time

Biffle turning personal experience into positive with 'Give Kids A Smile'       

Greg Biffle, currently the Sprint Cup Series points leader, answers this week's six questions.

1. Prior to last Saturday's Capital City 400 at Richmond International Raceway, you participated in the "Give Kids A Smile" program that resulted in nearly 400 children getting free dental health care at the track. Why are you so passionate about this?

Biffle: I don't want to tell the kids, but when I was growing up I should have gotten braces then. My brother and I both wrestled in high school and when you're wrestling, having braces is not a good thing. I was 13, 14 years old. It was my turn -- but I was absolutely not getting braces. I refused. I waited until I was old to get them.

“Once you start learning and get educated about it, you're kind of amazed it's gone so unnoticed.

Kids' dental health has gone under the radar. It's important.”

-- GREG BIFFLE

I'm so happy now that I did it. It's nice to have your teeth right. ... And as it turns out, I would have been way happier wrestling with braces on than driving a car with them on. To have that helmet squeezing your cheeks, your mouth gets real sore.

2. And the braces you wore were made by your sponsor, 3M, right?

Biffle: Yes, it was a 3M braces system that they have. Actually, I'm glad I did wait -- because over time they invented the braces system, with a wire that snaps in and allows teeth to move side to side, keeps them aligned. Permanent wires are bonded to back of teeth now. I got my braces removed last year about this time.

3. Did anyone in the garage make fun of you for wearing braces at 40-plus years of age?

Biffle: You would think people would give you a hard time about it, but they didn't. Maybe a few fans, but you're always going to have that.

4. So this program is something you can really identify with personally?

Biffle: I'm blessed to have sponsors who allow me to be part of this. It's very important to me, anything that can improve the health of the kids. Dental and general health care are a big part of 3M's business, and 3M is a big supporter of the Henry Schein [Inc.] organization and the American Dental Association, which put on the free screening and free care for the kids through this Give A Smile program. So it's pretty neat.

It's a great thing they're doing. It's most important to educate the kids. The kids have the decision to pick up the toothbrush as well, so we're trying to stress the importance of dental health and educate them on what it's about. There are over 16 million kids that live with dental disease. There are so many things you probably don't know about. Once you start learning and get educated about it, you're kind of amazed it's gone so unnoticed. Kids' dental health has gone under the radar. It's important, and I learned about it through this program.

5. Being first in points for much of this season and winning at Texas sure has put a smile on your face. What's been the key?

Biffle: Better preparation, being prepared for the weekends. The cars are better coming out of the shop. I've got a new group of guys, a new crew chief in Matt Puccia, a new over-the-wall crew. A different guy calling the race. It's all those things.

In our sport, it's never any one big thing, it's a dozen small things. It's kind of funny because one thing can keep you from running competitive. So you have to get them all right. Last year we were fixing them one at a time, and we never could get there. I noticed it at the end of the season, but Matt couldn't come in and fix it all at one time. And they didn't want Matt fixing too much because they knew the dynamics of the company [at Roush Fenway Racing] were going to change. They were like, 'Hold on.' But when the season was over, he got carte blanche to do what he felt he needed to do to make our team competitive.

6. Do you like more or less flying under the radar?

Biffle: Yes. There's a lot less pressure. Look how many people keep asking Dale Earnhardt Jr. when he's going to win his next race. That's every week that I see it.

The expectation level when you're not that focus -- when the flashbulbs aren't going off every time you walk in a room -- well, then I can over-deliver and everybody's happy. That's starting to change, though, with the more success we have and the more attention people start to pay to us.

You always look to see what you can do to try to stay ahead of the curve. Even when you win, you wonder when is the next time you're going to win. It's not necessarily being worried, but making sure you're paying attention. ... If you want to keep smiling, don't get complacent.

By Joe Menzer, NASCAR.COM
May 01, 2012 1:54 PM, EDT