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Lowe's Motor Speedway announces partnership with school systems
Photo by James Nix
Kannapolis City Schools superintendent Dr. Jo Anne Byerly gets ready for her ride in a race car at Lowe's Motor Speedway Wednesday afternoon.
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Published: September 2, 2009
CONCORD - It was a pep rally complete with band members performing, miniature footballs tossed into the crowd and jerseys worn by the major players, but it was not to celebrate an upcoming football game.
Lowe's Motor Speedway held a pep rally press conference Wednesday announcing a new homecoming partnership with 40 public high schools from six school systems in Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Iredell and Rowan counties for the NASCAR Banking 500 on Oct. 17.
The schools are invited to participate in a "Fund-Racing" program where school groups have the opportunity to sell tickets to the NASCAR Banking 500 and receive $10 for every ticket sold.
The schools will be able to process the sales through the speedway's Web site.
"Homecoming traditionally takes place in the fall," said Scott Cooper, director of marketing and public relations for Lowe's Motor Speedway. "NASCAR Banking 500 is the only race where the fans and NASCAR industry can truly come home to."
At the pep rally, members from the Jay M. Robinson High School marching band and Concord High School cheerleaders performed.
To begin the partnership, Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway said it will contribute $1,000 to each participating school.
Mike Hargrave, motorsports platform executive for Bank of America, also said the company will match the $1,000 contributions to the participating schools.
School superintendents and other officials said they were thrilled to receive extra funds in a time when there have been budget cuts.
"The importance of Lowe's Motor Speedway to our community, you can't measure it," said Barry Shepherd, superintendent for Cabarrus County Schools. "We are excited to raise money with them."
Cooper also said the speedway already heard from schools that this fundraising process was nontraditional but much easier.
"It's going to be a win-win for schools and the speedway," said Jo Anne Byerly, superintendent for Kannapolis City Schools. "Our communities love football and racing. What a great combination."
Lowe's Motor Speedway also announced it will donate a VIP race package for two from the Speedway Club for the schools to use as a raffle prize. The high school that sells the most tickets will receive a luxury suite for 64 people to the 2010 NASCAR Sprint All-Start Race.
After the pep rally press conference, school officials were given jerseys to wear and invited to ride in stock cars with drivers going up to 170 mph.
For more information on the program, visit www.lowesmotorspeedway.com/schools or call 704-455-3294.
• Contact reporter Jessica Groover: 704-789-9152
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