THE NASCAR FOUNDATION, HENDRICK MARROW PROGRAM AND JIMMIE JOHNSON FOUNDATION
LAUNCH NATIONAL BLOOD AND MARROW DRIVE
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From L-R Michigan International Speedway President
Brett Shelton, NASCAR Driver Jimmie Johnson and
NASCAR Vice
President of Licensing and Consumer
Products Mark Dyer
pose at a press conference
announcing a national blood and
marrow drive. | CHARLOTTE, N.C. (June 16, 2006)
– Michigan International Speedway's Spirit of America 500 Blood Drive
on September 11, has gone national. The NASCAR Foundation, in partnership with
Hendrick Marrow Program, and the Jimmie Johnson Foundation will launch The
NASCAR Foundation Blood and Marrow Drive at select tracks nationwide set to take
place in September.
The NASCAR Foundation is building on the success of MIS' Blood Drive,
by providing unique experiences at many different tracks that bring out the
goodwill and community pride in all race fans. This September The NASCAR Foundation
Blood and Marrow Drive will be at tracks from coast to coast so that all
race fans can get involved. To date, 13 tracks are participating: Michigan International
Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, California Speedway, Darlington Raceway,
Daytona International Speedway, Dover International Speedway, Homestead-Miami
Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, Pocono
Raceway, Richmond International Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway and Watkins
Glen International. Additionally, Hendrick Motorsports is also participating.
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| "My work with the American Red Cross has shown me the
importance of blood donations," said Jimmie Johnson, driver of Hendrick
Motorsports’ No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet. "The NASCAR Foundation Blood and Marrow
Drive is a great way to build awareness within the NASCAR family, and I
encourage fans everywhere to get involved and participate."
In addition to giving blood, fans are also encouraged to join
the National Marrow Donor Program® Registry of volunteer marrow donors. Everyday
thousands of patients with life-threatening diseases that could be treated with
a marrow transplant are searching the Registry for a donor.
"I have learned through my personal experience how important
the National Marrow Donor Program Registry is to patients in search of hope,"
said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "Joining the Registry is a
quick, pain-free process that could save someone’s life. The NASCAR Foundation
Blood and Marrow Drive is a wonderful way to help those in need and have a
little fun at the same time."
For more information on the National Blood and Marrow
Drive, participating tracks, and how you can get involved, visit www.nascar.com/foundation.
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