Rallying for Oklahoma

CONCORD, NC - MAY 25: The #22 Discount Tire Ford of Joey Logano shows a sticker in support of Oklahoma tornado victims during qualifying for the NASCAR Nationwide Series History 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25, 2013 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
CONCORD, NC - MAY 25:  The #22 Discount Tire Ford of Joey Logano shows a sticker in support of Oklahoma tornado victims during qualifying for the NASCAR Nationwide Series History 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25, 2013 in Concord, North Carolina.  (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
CONCORD, NC – MAY 25: The #22 Discount Tire Ford of Joey Logano shows a sticker in support of Oklahoma tornado victims during qualifying for the NASCAR Nationwide Series History 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25, 2013 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

CONCORD, N.C.–Whether it’s Super Storm Sandy, the Newtown, Conn., shootings or the Boston Marathon bombings, the NASCAR community as a whole is quick to come to the aid of those who need help.

Such is the case once again with the recent tornado outbreak in Oklahoma, which devastated the town of Moore, near Oklahoma City, and killed 24 people.

The NASCAR Foundation is actively encouraging fans and members of the racing community to donate directly to the relief efforts headed by the American Red Cross. The Foundation also has asked teams for donations of VIP experiences and memorabilia for a charity auction, with all proceeds earmarked for the Red Cross.

NASCAR president Mike Helton, drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer and Jimmie Johnson, along with Johnson’s wife and Oklahoma native Chandra Johnson, filmed a public service announcement in support of the Red Cross.

Love’s Travel Stops, sponsor of David Ragan’s No. 34 Front Row Racing Ford, is donating $3 million to support Oklahoma relief efforts.

“Anything we can do to help, we’re obviously happy to do it,” Ragan said. “You feel so helpless when you watch the footage on TV, and you wish you could do something more for those folks. The best way to help is to donate money and we hope NASCAR fans will follow in Love’s footsteps in doing so.”

Michael Waltrip Racing is running decals on all three of its cars in support of Oklahoma-based Feed the Children. A Feed the Children decal also will appear on the No. 30 Toyota of David Stremme, fielded by Swan Racing, which also ran a car in the Daytona 500 supporting the victims of the Newtown shootings.

The AARP Foundation, which sponsors Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 Chevrolet through its Driver to End Hunger initiative, has established a relief fund for Oklahoma victims. Johnson’s sponsor Lowe’s has announced a $1-million donation for Oklahoma tornado relief, and Johnson said Saturday at Charlotte he will visit the devastated area after Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600.

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.