NASCAR Vice Chairman Mike Helton appeared on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s Morning Drive as part of a one-hour show on Wednesday that was dedicated to helping the victims of Hurricane Florence. Helton joined NASCAR stars Jimmie Johnson and Joey Logano and other dignitaries such as Dover International Speedway President and CEO Mike Tatoian to help drum up support to send food and personal items to those affected by the storm.
“When there’s something like the hurricane, it affects people, it affects us,” Helton told Mike Bagley and Pete Pistone. “And if we’re in a position to help and support those that need the help, then we’re anxious to do that.”
Turns out, that’s a creed to which all of NASCAR Nation subscribes. Drivers, tracks and foundations alike all have answered the call with the need for Hurricane Florence relief still great weeks after the storm.
The NASCAR Foundation, for which Helton is board chairman and president, teamed with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio to hold the one-hour telethon earlier this week; and the respective foundations for Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson and Joey Logano quickly ran the tote board up to $50,000 raised. The NASCAR Foundation kicked in another $50,000 during the show, and the $100,000 from those entities equated to 10 truckloads of food and personal items that will be heading to the victims.
Beyond that, drivers are helping in their own personal ways. Among them:
– Team Penske driver Brad Keselowski and his wife Paige are collecting donations that will be used toward the purchase of fuel for first responders. Paige, from the Eastern North Carolina coast, already has made trips to affected areas.
– Ryan and Krissie Newman sent a fleet of trucks to help rescue and relocate pets and affected animals, with Krissie herself donning gear and kayaking into the waters to help. Darlington Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway both provided support for these efforts.
– Brett Moffitt is hosting a fundraising campaign where one donor will win a trip for two to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series finale in Miami.
– Denny Hamlin hosted a golf tournament in Myrtle Beach, which raised money for families impacted by Hurricane Florence.
– Brennan Poole is working with Carolina food banks to help victims.
– NASCAR President Steve Phelps tweeted that he was donating one truck full of food and personal items to be sent into the affected areas.
– Charlotte Motor Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway all opened up their campgrounds to hurricane evacuees or those seeking refuge.
– The Kevin Harvick Foundation donated two trucks full of supplies.
– Motor Racing Outreach and the Waltrip Brothers Charity Championship sent four trucks of relief supplies.
– MRO and Roush Yates Engines, along with all Charlotte area NASCAR employees, collected supplies that were driven to the impacted areas.
That’s a lot of money and a lot of supplies, but more is needed. Now that the Sirius show is over, you still can help. Log on to NASCARFoundation.org/hurricane to make a donation. Even though the flood waters are receding, the cleanup will be extensive and the need for help will exist for many months.