INDY RACING: Heritage Motorsports teams up with Farm Aid
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
August 31, 2001Heritage to help Farm Aid: Heritage Motorsports will race with a new cause for the final two events of the 2001 Indy Racing season by teaming up with the respected charitable organization Farm Aid.
Farm Aid signage will appear on the No. 35 Heritage Motorsports Firestone Menards G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone driven by Jeff Ward at the Delphi Indy 300 on Sept. 2 at Chicagoland Speedway and the Chevy 500 on Sept. 16 at Texas Motor Speedway.
The Mecom family, co-owners of Heritage Motorsports, has a long relationship with Willie Nelson, one of the founders of Farm Aid. That friendship, coupled with the team's recent tie-in with the Indy Racing League and rock-and-roll legend John Mellencamp, also a founder of Farm Aid, created the foundation for the agreement.
"There are a number of areas where Farm Aid and the IRL match up in marketing objectives, so by combining efforts we can take each other's message directly to a much larger audience," team co-owner John Mecom III said. "We are using these last two races as a test for next season. The goal is to build this relationship into a major program for 2002. We know this is a unique program that the fans of the IRL can get behind and support."
Said Farm Aid President Nelson: "I'm glad that Farm Aid will be featured in a brand-new way - on a race car. Race fans are sure to understand the importance of family farmers, and will be welcome supporters of Farm Aid."
Farm Aid was founded in 1985 by Nelson, Mellencamp and Neil Young to raise public awareness about the plight of the American family farmer and to provide assistance to those families whose livelihood depends on agriculture. In the past 16 years, Farm Aid has granted nearly $16 million to more than 100 farm organizations, churches and service agencies in 44 states.
This year's Farm Aid concert will take place at the Verizon Wireless Music Center on Sept. 29 in Noblesville, Ind. Artists scheduled to appear include Nelson, Young, Mellencamp and Dave Matthews, in a special solo performance. Fans can donate to Farm Aid at farmaid.org or by calling 1-800-FARMAID.
Text provided by Paul Kelly
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