Blood drive contributions top 4,800 across country

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR fans across the country came out by the thousands last week for the NASCAR Foundation's Fourth Annual Blood Drive presented by Nationwide Insurance. A total of 4,861 units of blood were collected through the national effort, helping to save thousands of lives.

The blood drive, held at 34 locations across the country on Sept. 11, has become one of the largest national drives of its kind, helping to save thousands of lives since the program began in 2006. In 2009, the top three collection sites were Michigan International Speedway with 1,297 units, Pocono Raceway with 710 units and Daytona International Speedway with 414 units collected.

Through a partnership with the American Red Cross, the blood drive seeks to help meet the on-going need for more than 39,000 blood donations every day and to help lessen the blood shortages that often occur during the summer months and around holidays.

Nationwide Insurance, the first corporate office in the country to have an on-site American Red Cross blood donor center, presented the drive for the second year and hosted drives at four corporate offices in 2009.

"We're proud of our associates' commitment to blood donation," said Jim McCoy, director, Nationwide strategic sponsorship. "Last year, more than 13,000 blood units were donated by Nationwide associates as part of our ongoing support of the American Red Cross. We are pleased to join The NASCAR Foundation and participate in such a worthy cause."

Several tracks will hold drives later this year including Atlanta Motor Speedway (Sept. 30), Infineon Raceway (Sept. 24), Martinsville Speedway (Sept. 18), New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Dec. 1) and Tri-County Motor Speedway (Sept. 18).