NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge Benefits NASCAR Day and Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma

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Team and Individual Champions Celebrate Pit Crew Honors

CONCORD, N.C. – Oct. 14, 2009 - During an appreciation luncheon honoring the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge team and individual champions, the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge recognized a $10,216 donation given to The NASCAR Foundation and the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma.
Proceeds, raised from the event in May, benefited The NASCAR Foundation’s NASCAR Day program to support the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, the winning team’s favorite charity.
The NASCAR Foundation mobilized fans, industry and media on May 15 to raise funds for NASCAR Day, a one-day celebration of the NASCAR spirit and its fans. In partnership with sponsors and events like the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge, The NASCAR Foundation has raised more than five million dollars to help non-profit organizations like the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma.
NASCAR team owner Richard Childress established the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma in 2008 to raise awareness and funds to reduce the effects of pediatric trauma.
“I would like to thank the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge for its generous donation to the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma and the NASCAR Foundation,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing and chairman of the advisory board for the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma. “I also would like to congratulate the strong effort of the No. 31 Caterpillar pit crew in winning this year’s NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge. This donation continues the funding of the Childress Institute, whose mission is to significantly improve survival rates of children nationwide who suffer serious injuries and reduce the lifelong impact of traumatic injuries in children.”
In addition to both charities benefitting from the event, Jeff Kerr, jack man for the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker boats Chevrolet, was inspired by the competition and a recent tragedy in Mooresville, N.C. He was determined to win the individual skills competition to help a young boy named Preston Loyd who was critically injured in a lawn mower accident. He did in fact win the jack man competition and donated his $10,000 earnings to the Loyd family. The family and Kerr attended the luncheon to celebrate.
"It was just one of those things I felt led to do,” said Kerr. “They're a good family in a bad situation."
During the luncheon, both the team and individual NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge Champions were recognized for their accomplishments. Beating the top-24 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pit crews, the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet pit crew won the fifth-annual event on May 14 receiving a $70,675 payout, engraved rings by Jostens and more. . The individual champions, consisting of five winners originating from the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker boats Chevrolet team and two members from the No. 18 M&Ms Toyota team, received a $10,000 bonus each, engraved rings by Jostens and additional gifts.
The NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge Champions will be presented the official winner’s rings, produced by Jostens, during pre-race activities at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Saturday, Oct. 17.
On Oct. 22, 2009, the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge team champions will perform pit stops at the Richard Childress Racing Fan Day. For more information, visit www.RCRFanDay.com.

Team Champion: No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet
Pit Crew Coach – Matt Clark
Front-Tire Changer – Daniel Blizzard
Front-Tire Carrier – Jon Wallace
Rear-Tire Changer – Terry Spalding
Rear-Tire Carrier – Chris Martin
Gas Man – Curt Bowman
Catch-Can Man – Andrew Childers
Jack Man – Adam North

Individual Champions

Front-Tire Changer – Dennis Terry, No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet
Front-Tire Carrier – Shannon Keys, No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet
Rear-Tire Changer – Jake Seminara, No. 18 M&M’s Toyota
Rear-Tire Carrier – Kenny Barber, No. 18 M&M’s Toyota
Gas Man – Preston Cordell, No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet
Catch-Can Man – Eric Hoyle, No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet
Jack Man – Jeff Kerr, No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet

About the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge
The NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge presented by Craftsman is a fan-friendly event that featured competition between the series’ top-24 pit crews and is the only indoor event sanctioned by NASCAR. For more information, please visit www.pitcrewchallenge.com.

About The NASCAR Foundation

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc., (NASCAR) launched The NASCAR Foundation in January 2006. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity that embodies the compassion of the NASCAR Family and its commitment to serving communities. The Foundation supports a wide range of charitable initiatives that reflect the core values of the entire NASCAR Family. The NASCAR Foundation will use strength of the sport and its people to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most. For more information on The NASCAR Foundation, please visit the website: WWW.NASCAR.COM/foundation.

About Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com), celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2009, has earned more than 180 victories and 12 NASCAR championships, including six in the Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Its 2009 Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Casey Mears (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil), Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar) and Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper). Its 2009 Nationwide Series lineup includes Bowyer, Burton and Stephen Leicht (No. 29 Holiday Inn) and Austin Dillon and Sean Caisse (No. 2 RCR Chevrolet). Austin Dillon, Ty Dillon and Ryan Gifford are RCR developmental drivers in both asphalt and dirt track racing.

About The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma

The Childress Institute’s (www.ChildressPediatricTrauma.org) mission is to significantly improve survival rates of children nationwide who suffer serious injuries and reduce the lifelong impact of traumatic injuries in children. Richard Childress and his family are providing $5 million to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center to initiate the project. The Medical Center and the Childress family are working with corporations and individuals to raise awareness and an additional $20 million to establish the Institute’s endowment fund. As the national center for championing the care of children with life-threatening injuries, the Childress Institute will: continually raise awareness that serious injuries annually claim the lives of more children than all other causes of death combined; lead research and education efforts to prevent and treat injuries; and identify and help put in place the resources needed to reach more kids faster with the kind of care that makes a difference – in saving their lives and helping them lead a normal life.

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