It’s wonderful to work for a company that supports the Fan Experience Team and allows us to help give back by working with non-profit organizations at or near the tracks we visit. So far this year we’ve had the opportunity to work with two wonderful groups: the Warrior Bonfire Program and Ronald McDonald House Charities Midwest.
First, we will flash back to April of 2023, Alabama Gang 100 weekend at Talladega Short Track. This is the first time we discovered the Warrior Bonfire Program, whose members are all Purple Heart recipients (find out more by visiting www.warriorbonfireprogram.org).
Over the next year we kept in contact with one of the members and started to plan for a return. With the advance notice and planning we were able to round up driver and series merchandise; allow them to try their hand at racing on the Dirt King Simulator; go on a tour through the pits, where they met drivers, took pictures, and collected autographs; put their names and information on four different cars; feature their Warrior Bonfire Program logo on each of the late models; arrange for them to watch from the infield; and more! The drivers, teams, vendors, fans, series staff, and others made this an incredibly memorable experience for all, and we can’t wait to do it again next year with a new group from the organization.
Fast forward to planning for the Gopher 50 at Deer Creek Speedway: it’s amazing what you can accomplish when people with the same passions put their heads together. Through talking with track promotor Cole Queensland we both had the idea to do something with a Children’s Hospital, and the Ronald McDonald House Charities Midwest happened to be about 30 minutes away from the track in Rochester, MN.
We started to collect pop tabs at every track we visited with the Late Models and Sprint Cars. In fact, we are still collecting them, so bring us those pop tabs! At Mississippi Thunder we were approached by Ethan Hoogendorn and his dad, Jeff, about bringing us approximately 200 POUNDS of tabs to Deer Creek! Special shout out to Ethan for his continued support of the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Prior to the Gopher 50, Tristan Chamberlain and Dustin Sorenson had their cars transported to the Ronald McDonald House in Rochester, MN for a social event in the parking lot. Between the teams, the track, and the Fan Experience team, we handed out hats, light up wands, shirts, and month-long passes to watch on DIRTVison. Family members were able to check out the cars and talk to the teams, eat, and enjoy ice cream.
With the help of fans, drivers, promotors, Longhorn Chassis, Dylan Scott, and especially Wayne Gibson Racing (Tristan Chamberlain’s car owner, who generously agreed to match donations), we were able to raise over $18,000 for the charity! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
The best part about these stories is that with each we have started a meaningful relationship, one that we can build on and continue for years to come. We appreciate the support of everyone that helped make these events possible.
“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands — one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” — Audrey Hepburn