Gordon Wins 2nd Quarter Man of the Year: Jeff Gordon has earned the second-quarter nomination for the NASCAR True Value Man of the Year Award. True Value, the Official Hardware Store of NASCAR, once again is sponsoring the award designed to honor a driver not only for accomplishments on the track but for community service and charitable efforts. Ricky Craven (#32 Tide Ford) received the first-quarter nomination. In December 1999, Gordon – a four-time Cup Series champion – established the Jeff Gordon Foundation. This charitable organization allows Gordon to offer his support, either in the form of a monetary donation, awareness or a simple meet-and-greet. Since April, Gordon has granted 10 wishes to children in the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He also met more than 30 Make-A-Wish children at Michigan International Speedway in June. And earlier this year, Gordon participated in the Association of American Publishers “Get Caught Reading” program. This program is designed to encourage reading among all age groups. Gordon also has teamed up with Sesame Street character “Elmo” to raise money for the Jeff Gordon Foundation. A specially designed collector’s car, which will not be raced, will be released for sale later this summer. In addition to Gordon’s generous donation of his time, the Jeff Gordon Foundation has made monetary donations to St. Jude’s Research Hospital and has raised more than $11,000 through on-line auctions. Monies raised are distributed to the charitable organizations supported by the Jeff Gordon Foundation: Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Marrow Foundation, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the Hendrick Marrow Program and Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. For the purpose of determining the NASCAR True Value Driver of the Year award winner, the NASCAR Winston Cup season has been divided into four quarters in which drivers are nominated for off-track efforts. An elite group of panelists will select one of the four quarterly finalists as the NASCAR True Value Driver of the Year. This award will be presented at the NASCAR Winston Cup Series awards ceremony in New York City, along with a prize of $100,000. The prize will be divided evenly between the driver and the charity of his choice. In addition to the NASCAR True Value Driver of the Year, True Value sponsors the Driver of the Race Award, which goes to the eligible driver who wins each of the 36 NASCAR Winston Cup championship events. Each True Value Driver of the Race Award winner receives $2,500 with an additional $2,500 going to the charity of their choice. The third-quarter nominee will be announced on September 16.(NASCAR PR)(7-23-2002)
