U Want Some Racing

NASCAR Teams Help Provide Relief for Haiti

By: Shirley Buttacavoli

Do you remember this?

“NASCAR’s racing teams will stage what they call the Hayride 500 on behalf of farmers in North Carolina who are badly in need of hay for their livestock. The stock-car teams announced in Talladega, Ala., Sunday that they are planning to help the farmers through the drought by using their rigs to transport hay from Columbus, Ohio, to North Carolina. Virtually every Winston Cup team will take part in the project, as well as NASCAR itself and various companies that support the racing series. The rigs, which normally carry high-speed racing cars and equipment, will leave from Charlotte Motor Speedway for Ohio on Friday.”

St. Petersburg Times, July 29, 1986
That was 23 years ago, and the NASCAR family continues to help others. No more so than the efforts being provided to the victims of the January 12, 2010, earthquakes in Haiti.
After watching a teenage refugee, wearing a Hendrick Motorsports 48 Championship hat, being united with her adoptive family in Riverview, Florida, today on my local ABC network (WFTS), I decided to find out what the NASCAR family was doing to help during this tragedy.
When I Googled: NASCAR teams helping Haiti – or – Motorsports teams helping Haiti, a majority of the links were directed to Hendrick Motorsports. And believe it or not, Michael Waltrip Racing was included in an article associated with HMS.
Since we are all NASCAR fans, Mark and I thought you might be interested in the efforts our sport is providing for those in Haiti.
Below are segments of articles, along with links you may be able to click on and access directly, or cut and paste the address. If you know of other NASCAR-related efforts, please let us know. The UWS family is proud of our sport; we hope you are as well.
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NASCAR Team Lends Planes For Haiti Relief (1/15/10) Hendrick Motorsports has loaned an airplane and two flight crews to an organization that is participating in the Haitian earthquake relief efforts.
The NASCAR team loaned a 45-passenger plane to Missionary Flights International, which will send support teams in and out of Port-au-Prince. The first flight is scheduled to leave Fort Pierce, Fla., on Saturday morning and will take 30 passengers and medical supplies into Haiti.
The HMS aviation team is planning to fly at least one roundtrip per day, with no timeline set on how long the plane and personnel will be on loan. The eight-team crew consists of HMS aviation director Dave Dudley, four captain-level pilots, one mechanic and one flight attendant. All volunteered to participate.
HMS officials have a second plane on standby, and team owner Rick Hendrick is covering all costs associated with the flights.
Hendrick officials said Friday they received a special exemption from the FAA to fly the plane into Port-au-Prince.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/15/nascar-team-lends-planes_n_425323.html
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NASCAR helping local doctors get to Haiti (1/18/10) A team of12 doctors and nurses who are volunteers with Lumiere Medical Ministries in Gastonia have been trying to get to Haiti to help save some lives. Now two NASCAR teams will give them a lift.
Michael Waltrip’s jet will carry the medical personnel from Charlotte Friday to Fort Pierce, Florida. There they will link-up with Mission Flights International that has been using Rick Hendrick’s jet for the final leg to Haiti.
“We are really fortunate to have these guys around,” said Hank Haskins, the CEO of Lumiere. Haskins has been trying to book seats on a commercial flight, but those planes have all been grounded while immediate relief efforts continue.

http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/NASCAR-Helping-Local-Doctors-Get-to-Haiti-81992542.html

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Fans Can Help Through Online Auction, Retail Store Offers (1/15/10) The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is teaming with the American Red Cross through an online auction and Brickyard Authentics retail store price reduction to encourage race fans to contribute to relief efforts for Haitian earthquake victims.
Thousands were killed and injured when a massive earthquake struck Jan. 12 near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The catastrophic damage destroyed the infrastructure of the capital of the Caribbean island nation, creating an urgent need for funds for water, food, medical services and temporary shelter.

http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/news/15665/IMS_Teaming_With_American_Red_Cross_For_Haitian_Earthquake_Relief

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“Hope for Haiti” drive-through fundraising event is underway at Auto Club Speedway (1/15/10) Southern Californian’s can join NBC4, Telemundo, the American Red Cross and Operation USA at Auto Club Speedway today until 6:30 p.m. to help the Haitian relief efforts of the American Red Cross and Operation USA.

Representatives from the two charitable organizations, the TV stations and Auto Club Speedway will be on hand to help collect the donations. Joining the effort are radio stations KFRG 95.1 FM and Exitos 93.9 FM and Major League Soccer’s Chivas USA.

http://www.catchfence.com/2010/sprintcup/01/15/hope-for-haiti-drive-through-fundraiser-underway-at-auto-club-speedway/

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Join the NASCAR family in providing Haitian relief help (current) Please join the NASCAR family in providing assistance to the relief effort. Your gift to the American Red Cross will support emergency relief and recovery efforts to help those people affected by the earthquake in Haiti. Assistance provided by the American Red Cross may include deploying personnel, sending relief supplies, and providing financial resources.

https://american.redcross.org/site/Donation2?idb=59894327&df_id=4437&4437.donation=form1&JServSessionIdr004=frru0if8d2.app195a