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LONG POND, PA, JUNE 10, 2006 – NASCAR legend Ernie Irvan has set the initial
field of participating drivers for the first of his track walk events this
summer to raise awareness for traumatic brain injury – the Leadership and
Awareness to Promote Safety (LAPS) Walk, set to take place on Friday, July 21
after Cup qualifying at the Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania.
Drivers Kyle Petty, Jeremy Mayfield, Martin Truex, Jr., Ken Schrader, Brian Vickers, Casey Mears, Jeff Burton, Jeff Green and
NASCAR President Mike Helton will join Irvan and the hundreds of supporters who have
registered to walk alongside them on the Pocono track. More are expected
to support Irvan in his efforts, and these drivers, along with drivers
participating in LAPS Walk at the Michigan International Speedway (MIS) on
August 16, 2006, will be announced on his www.lapswalk.org website as they
commit. For a minimum pledge, fans can walk the track alongside the
drivers and get autographs in order to raise awareness and needed funds in
Ernie’s fight against the silent epidemic of traumatic brain injury in America.
“I am truly appreciative of the support my colleagues have shown,” said
Irvan. “Many current and former drivers joined me last year at my
inaugural walk at the Michigan International Speedway (MIS) in Michigan, and
many more that I’ve talked to are committed to helping me in my cause going
forward. With one person every 23 seconds suffering a traumatic brain
injury in the United States, this support will go a long way in fighting this
epidemic.”
Created as a partnership between the Brain Injury Association of America and
Irvan’s non-profit organization, Race2Safety, the LAPS Walk aims to raise money
for and awareness of brain injury and to bring brain injury to the forefront of
consciousness in the minds of Americans. Irvan suffered two traumatic
brain injuries at MIS during his racing career, the second of which prompted his
early retirement.
Registration for LAPS Walk is available online at www.lapswalk.org or by calling 1-800-772-4323
until 11:00pm EST Sunday July 16, 2006. On site registration will take
place at Pocono on Friday, July 21 from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm, with the actual walk
scheduled to start at approximately 6pm.
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