The prestigious NASCAR Nationwide Series season opener, the 120-lap, 300-mile event scheduled on Saturday, Feb. 13, will be known as the DRIVE4COPD 300, Daytona International Speedway Track President Robin Braig announced. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a serious, progressive disease which includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both that robs people of their ability to breathe and kills more Americans each year than breast cancer and diabetes combined. The DRIVE4COPD race entitlement is part of a broader nationwide health initiative to bring more awareness to the disease, led by founding sponsor Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. with partnering organizations including the COPD Foundation, American Lung Association and NASCAR. Serving as the Grand Marshals for the DRIVE4COPD 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race will be the four celebrity campaign ambassadors Emmy-nominated actor Jim Belushi, Olympic Gold Medalist Bruce Jenner, Grammy Award-winning country music star Patty Loveless and former Pro Football Star Michael Strahan who will all give the command, “Drivers start your engines.”(Daytona PR)(2-3-2010)
