The 26th annual Stocks For Tots holiday event and fundraiser will be held Tuesday, Dec. 9 at the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, N.C. The event which started in 1989 has raised more than $1 million and collected more than 50,000 toys to aide raising awareness for child abuse in North Carolina. Each year thousands of fans have attended the event where they can meet many of their favorite NASCAR drivers such as NASCAR’S Sprint Cup Champion Chase runner-up Ryan Newman and the ‘First Lady of Drag Racing’, Shirley Muldowney. NASCAR Hall of Famers Dale Jarrett, Bobby Allison, Leonard Wood, and Rex White will also be on hand along rising NASCAR Sprint Cup stars Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney. Current drivers Kerry Earnhardt, Ron Hornaday, Morgan Shepherd, Mike Bliss and many drivers from other NASCAR Racing Series are coming to the event.
There will even be some items donated up for auction, such as: Jayski.com Tshirt, Jayski.com deck of cards, diecast, prints, etc.
Others attending include Rolex 24 Hour race winner Elliot Forbes Robinson, former Formula One, Road Racing, Cart, Indy Car racing standout Max Papis, and World of Outlaws Sprint Car driver Cody Darrah from Kasey Kahn’s team. Retired drivers and legends include former Charlotte Motor Speedway promoter Humpy Wheeler, Harry Gant, Dave Marcus, Derrick Cope, Donnie Allison, Ernie Irvan, Hut Strickland, Neil ‘Soapy’ Castles, ‘Tiger’ Tom Pistone, Jim Vandiver and others. NHRA Drag Racers will be represented by Doug Herbert, Greg Anderson, and Jason Line. Media personalities such as TV broadcasters Mike Joy, Larry MacReynolds, Ray Dunlap, Charlotte Motor Speedway’s mascot ‘Lug Nut’, and Santa Claus will be ready to meet the fans. For a full list of driver appearances please visit: www.stocksfortots.com/driver_appearances.html.
The money raised will support the Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) nonprofit organization which is dedicated to helping children, supporting parents and improving the community.
Don Miller, chairman of the Stocks For Tots Foundation and the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame, is noted for his humanitarian efforts as he was the recipient of the inaugural NASCAR Humanitarian Award. Stocks For Tots is his favorite program. ‘This is the most worthy thing we do’, said Miller. ‘We’ve been collecting toys at our hall of fame and other locations in the area. We’ve partnered with Sam’s Club, and to hold the event again at the NASCAR Institute with John Dodson’s help is a great venue for this fundraiser.’
‘I am as excited as Don to hold Stocks For Tots at the NASCAR Institute,’ beamed Dodson. ‘With all the great drivers who will be here signing autographs, the fans will be in for a special treat while helping out on a truly worthwhile cause.’
The Stocks For Tots fundraiser at the NASCAR Institute will begin at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 9 and will end at 9 p.m. A cash donation of $10 and a new unwrapped toy with a $10 value will be required for admission. In addition to the celebrity autograph session there will be a silent auction and a chance to visit with Santa Claus. A ‘shop only’ wrist band is available for $10. The NASCAR Institute is located at 220 Byers Creek Road in Mooresville, NC 28117. Their phone number is (704) 658-1950.
This year’s event requires wristbands which are needed to enter the event, obtain an autograph and/or attend the silent auction and gift shop. Wristbands will go on sale the day of the event at the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame (704-663-5331) located at 119 Knob Hill Road in Mooresville, NC from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. or at the NASCAR Technical Institute at 4:30.
Stocks For Tots was created as a way to bring together stock car racing and its fans while raising awareness of the child abuse problem in North Carolina. The idea was to collect toys and raise money during a festive, family-oriented holiday event. For a full list of driver appearances and more information on the event visit: www.stocksfortots.com.
