Kansas Speedway today announced that Race to Stop Suicide, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention and mental health awareness, will serve as the entitlement partner for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series playoff race on Saturday, Sept. 26. The event will be known as the Race to Stop Suicide 200.
The Race to Stop Suicide 200 will be part of an action-packed NASCAR Playoffs weekend at Kansas Speedway and provide a powerful platform to raise awareness about mental health, encourage meaningful conversations, and connect individuals and families with life-saving resources.
“Kansas Speedway is proud to partner with Race to Stop Suicide to bring greater visibility to an issue that impacts communities across our nation,” said Pat Warren, President of Kansas Speedway. “Motorsports have a unique ability to bring people together, and we’re honored to use one of our biggest race weekends of the year to help amplify a message of hope, support and awareness.”
The announcement comes on the heels of Mental Health Awareness Month in May and reinforces the shared commitment of Kansas Speedway and Race to Stop Suicide to foster open dialogue surrounding mental health and suicide prevention.
Founded in 2018, Race to Stop Suicide utilizes the platform of professional motorsports to educate communities, reduce stigma and promote suicide prevention resources. Through partnerships across NASCAR and beyond, the organization works to normalize conversations around mental health, provide education on warning signs and risk factors, and encourage people to check in on those who may be struggling. The nonprofit was co-founded by Daniel and Randy Dye and has become one of the most visible mental health advocacy initiatives in motorsports.
“We believe awareness leads to action, and action saves lives,” said Daniel Dye. “Partnering with Kansas Speedway for the Race to Stop Suicide 200 allows us to bring this message to one of the biggest stages in motorsports and reach fans across the country with the reminder that hope is available and help is within reach.”
71 MVP was chosen to be the parent company as a tribute to Randy Dye’s childhood hero Roberto Clemente, former right fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Clemente won the World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in 1971 before tragically losing his life in a humanitarian operation. Clemente once said, “any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on Earth,” a quote that encapsulates Dye’s mission.
The Race to Stop Suicide 200 will serve as a pivotal NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff event at the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway, a track renowned for producing some of the most competitive and dramatic racing in the sport.
Throughout race weekend, fans can expect additional activations and opportunities to learn more about mental health resources, suicide prevention initiatives and ways to support the Race to Stop Suicide mission.
Tickets for NASCAR Playoffs Weekend, including the Race to Stop Suicide 200 on Saturday, Sept. 26, are available now at KansasSpeedway.com.
The action-packed weekend will kick off on Friday, Sept. 25 with the ARCA Menards Series, and culminate in the Hollywood Casino 400 on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 2:00 pm CT, where NASCAR’s most popular driver, Chase Elliott, will look to retain his Fall Kansas crown.
— NASCAR–