TRACKS: Helping Needy Children Goal Of Martinsville Speedways Seventh Annual Toy Drive
29 November 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
MARTINSVILLE, VA With Christmas Day a month away, children are starting to feel the excitement that comes with the season.
Race fans can help make sure that the big day is just as thrilling for the needy youngsters of Martinsville and Henry County by visiting the Seventh Annual Souvenir Day/Toy Drive at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, December 2.
Souvenir trailers for a dozen or so of the top Winston Cup drivers will be on hand, offering end-of-year sales on most all of their merchandise.
Admission is free, but shoppers can help the areas needy youngsters by bringing a new, unwrapped toy. All of the donated toys and any cash donated will go to the Martinsville and Henry County Salvation Army.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for race fans to come together for a day of fun and do something wonderful for children in need," said Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell. "Race fans have been very generous over the years."
The Souvenir Day sales are a great opportunity to buy a gift for that race fan in your life without shelling out big bucks. The vendors will have plenty of year-end closeout items on hand, priced far below normal cost. Some vendors will also have new items that will be offered next season. The souvenir vendors will be selling jackets, T-shirts, caps, collectibles and many other items that may be hard to find except at Winston Cup events.
Vendors for Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace and 2000 Winston Cup champion Bobby Labonte have already committed to the event. Also the NASCAR 2000 souvenir trailer and the Martinsville Speedway trailer will be on hand.
The souvenir trailers will be located in the tracks infield area. Since the toy drive began in 1994 over 12,000 toys have been donated to help brighten Christmas mornings throughout the area. Also, more than $10,000 has been collected during that period to purchase even more Christmas presents. The Allison Legacy cars will run a 30-lap race at 1 p.m. The Allison cars are approximately three-quarter scale and look similar to Winston Cup cars.
The next NASCAR Winston Cup action at Martinsville Speedway is the Virginia 500 on Sunday, April 8, 2001. Tickets are $40-$70 and are available by calling toll free at (877) 722-3849.
Text provided by Steve Sheppard
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot photos
and racing art, please visit The Racing Image
Galleries and The
Visions of Speed Art Gallery .