Pocono race to raise funds for disaster victims

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- For the third consecutive year, the American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania is proud to be a partner for the 2010 Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway.

In 2008, Sunoco and Pocono Raceway created a partnership with the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter to provide much-needed funds for Red Cross House, SEPA Chapter's short-term residence in West Philadelphia where local families begin their recovery from fires, floods and other disasters. In 2009, 309 families (883 people) stayed at Red Cross House for an average 21-day stay. Last year, SEPA Chapter responded to 685 disasters, helped more than 10,000 people at disaster scenes, provided financial assistance to 3,014 people (924 families), and operated 11 disaster shelters.

"We are grateful for the continued generosity of Sunoco, Pocono Raceway and the Mattioli family," said Red Cross SEPA Chapter CEO Tom Foley. "The proceeds from this event will directly benefit the many families in our community who have been and will be affected by disasters this year."

"Our partnership with the Red Cross and Sunoco has been such a huge success the last several years. We are excited to be part of such a wonderful event, while supporting such a deserving cause," said Pocono Raceway president Brandon Igdalsky.

As a corporate partner of the Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter, Sunoco provides free gasoline for the Chapter's emergency response vehicles to help defray the cost of local disaster relief operations.

"It's rewarding to know so many people have been helped by the partnership Sunoco and Pocono Raceway has with the Red Cross," said Bob Owens, Sunoco's senior vice president of marketing.

In honor of the military, several high-ranking military leaders from around Pennsylvania and surrounding states will serve as grand marshal.

The grand marshal will have the opportunity to attend the NASCAR drivers' meeting, tour the garage area, be on the pit crew and communicate with the drivers, ride in the pace car and begin the race with the official NASCAR phrase, "Gentlemen, start your engines!"

Tickets for the race can be purchased and donations to the Red Cross can be made at Redcrossphilly.org or Poconoraceway.com. Pocono Raceway is donating 10 percent of the ticket revenue generated by online ticket buyers who use the Red Cross promo code, REDCROSS.