Fourth annual blood drive scheduled for Sept. 11

CHICAGO, Ill. -- The NASCAR Foundation will partner with the American Red Cross for the NASCAR Foundation Fourth Annual Blood Drive presented by Nationwide Insurance on Sept. 11, 2009.

Each year the drive mobilizes some of NASCAR's biggest entities -- tracks, drivers, teams and sponsors -- in an effort to help meet the on-going need for more than 39,000 blood donations every day.

Biffle

Approximately four million people give blood through the Red Cross each year, making it the largest single supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. Through its partnership with the American Red Cross, the NASCAR Foundation hopes to expand the NASCAR Foundation Blood Drive to help maintain safe blood supply levels and lessen the blood shortages that often occur during the summer months and around holidays.

"Last year the blood drive, through this partnership, collected 4,261 pints of blood that was vital to people in need," said Mike Helton, NASCAR president and NASCAR Foundation board member. "We continue to be very proud of the work the partnership has accomplished and ask the industry and the fans to rally around this important cause. We appreciate the continued support of Nationwide Insurance, our tracks and all the NASCAR fans who come out every year to donate blood and help save lives."

Greg Biffle, driver of the No. 16 3M/Red Cross Ford and American Red Cross blood donor, will appear in an advertising campaign promoting the drive.

"I'm excited to represent the Red Cross and be a part of the NASCAR Foundation Blood Drive this year," Biffle said. "The drive provides fans with the opportunity to become heroes in their community by giving the gift of life through blood donations."

The national effort will be comprised of blood drives held at tracks and corporate offices across the country. Nationwide will return this year as presenting sponsor and hold drives at four of its corporate offices in Columbus, Ohio, Des Moines, Iowa, Richmond, Va. and Raleigh, N.C.

"Nationwide Insurance and the Nationwide Foundation have a proud tradition of supporting causes that help people who are in critical or immediate need," said Jim McCoy, director of strategic sponsorship at Nationwide. "That, along with our long-standing partnership with the American Red Cross, is why the opportunity to support The NASCAR Foundation's Blood Drive was a natural fit for Nationwide."

In addition to the corporate office blood drives, Nationwide is planning to host a blood drive at its facility in Richmond, Va. on Sept. 10, to correspond with the races being held that weekend at Richmond. The event will incorporate various Nationwide Series driver appearances in support of the partnership.

As part of Nationwide's partnership with the NASCAR Foundation and American Red Cross, there will be information about the drive and educational materials about being a blood donor available to fans in the Nationwide Fan Pit Stops at Atlanta Motor Speedway (Sept. 5-6).

In honor of the many acts of kindness displayed by blood donors each year, the tracks work very hard to make the drive a memorable experience. As a special thank you to participants some tracks offer the opportunity to take a spin around the track in their own cars, while other tracks provide lunch, snacks, t-shirts, hats and other commemorative items to donors. Every person who comes to donate at one of the participating drives will also receive a gift bag, generously donated by 3M.

In partnership with 3M, the NASCAR Foundation Annual Blood Drive branded hauler that will visit all the tracks holding Nationwide Series events through Sept. 11.

To learn more about the NASCAR Foundation Fourth Annual Blood Drive presented by Nationwide Insurance or to find a participating track near you visit www.nascar.com/foundation.