NASCAR: Youngster Grand Marshal For Advance Auto Parts 250
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
March 14, 2001
MARTINSVILLE, VA (March 14, 2001) – Zack White collects Pez dispensers. He does a pretty good job collecting dollars, too.
Zack, a 10-year-old fourth-grade student at John Redd Elementary School in Collinsville, VA., recently raised more than $10,000 for the 2000 Walk to Cure Diabetes.
He was awarded the Champion for Diabetes Award by the Roanoke Valley Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for raising the most money for the walk.
In the process he caught the attention of Advance Auto Parts, the largest retail supporter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) in the world. For his hard work for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Advance Auto Parts selected Zack to be the Grand Marshal for the April 7 Advance Auto Parts 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway. The Advance Auto Parts 250 will be held the day before the Virginia 500 Winston Cup race at Martinsville Speedway.
”I’ve very excited about being the Grand Marshal for the race on April 7,” said Zack, who is a Type I diabetic. “I have never had the chance to do something like this. I have no idea what to expect, but I am sure it will be so much fun, so exciting.
“I have even been practicing saying “gentlemen start your engines!” I also cannot wait to tour the Martinsville Speedway. It’s so big,” said Zack, who in addition to collecting Pez dispensers, also enjoys riding his bike and working with computers.
But despite his enthusiasm over the Advance Auto Parts 250, the son of Graham and Liza White of Collinsville will also have the cause he’s worked so hard for on his mind on April 7.
“I am glad that I am going to be representing kids in this area and all over the country who have juvenile diabetes. I want to thank Advance Auto for their great contributions to the research in finding a cure for this horrible disease,” said Zack, who recently represented the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at a Roanoke Express Hockey game by dropping the opening puck.
Advance Auto Parts has supported JDRF through its annual campaign for the past six years, raising a total of $8 million.
The Virginia 500/Advance Auto Parts 250 weekend kicks off with Bud Pole qualifying for the Craftsman Truck Series at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, April 6 followed by time trials for the Winston Cup Series at 3 p.m. Tickets for qualifying are $15 for adults and children under 12 get in free.
Tickets for the Advance Auto Parts 250 Craftsman Truck race are $30 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12. All seats are unreserved.
There still are great seats available for the Virginia 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race for $40-$70 each. To purchase tickets call the speedway ticket office toll free at 877-722-3849 or go online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.
Text provided by Mike Smith
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