While NASCAR nation’s thoughts are in Daytona today and tomorrow for 2014 preseason testing, behind the scenes back at the Richard Childress Racing shop, something even more unique than cars on the track is happening.
Pit Stops for Poverty, an organization founded by RCR pit crew team members, is staging a twenty-four hour fast, going without food to end the childhood hunger problem in North Carolina.
“We are having our first-ever pit crew food fast,” Ray Wright, founder of Pit Stops for Poverty and rear tire carrier for the No. 27 Richard Childress Racing team, said. “We are camping out in the RCR Museum parking lot as one big unit, including all six teams and all six pit crews, starting at 5:00 PM on Thursday, January 9th to 5:00 PM on Friday, January 10th.”
“We’re going to endure a 24 hour food fast to align ourselves with the hungry in our state,” Wright said. “We’re going to use it as a way to raise donations for Second Harvest Food Bank.”
Wright and his RCR pit crew brethren realize that they are picking one of the coldest times of the year to do their fast. But this hardy group is not going to let that deter them from their mission.
“I think the low is going to get down to about 32 degrees Thursday night,” Wright said. “But the guys are pretty excited about it.”
“We’re bringing out tents and fire pits and the whole deal.”
While Wright welcomes any family, friends and fans to come by and support them, either with encouragement or food donations, he is focused primarily on raising money for the Food Bank.
“We would love to have folks come by with food but we really want to raise money,” Wright said. “For one dollar donated to the Food Bank, they can provide seven small nutritious meals for these kids.”
“People who want to support our cause can go to www.pitstopsforpoverty.com,” Wright continued. “They can click donate and do what we need them to do.”
So, how did this whole effort begin that has led tire carriers, changers and gas men to camp out in the cold and go without food to call attention to childhood hunger?
“Truthfully and honestly, this started in a Bible study a couple of years ago,” Wright said. “People don’t want to hear preaching.”
“They want to see our Christianity,” Wright continued. “And so we need to help people and we need to be a light for people who are not so fortunate.”
“We found out that we live in the worst state in regards to childhood hunger,” Wright said. “One in every four children in North Carolina are food insecure.”
“We have over 154,000 kids in the 18 counties that Second Harvest Food Bank feeds,” Wright continued. “With our reach in NASCAR, we thought we could try different ways to raise money for the Food Bank that needs a source of support.”
“And that’s how this whole thing started,” Wright said. “And so, from starting in June, we’ve raised over $50,000 for Second Harvest so far.”
In addition to the food fast, Pit Stops for Poverty raises money for the Second Harvest Food Bank in other unique ways.
“We have Twitter and Facebook auctions, track sales, an RCR Men of Pit Road calendar and we sell crew shirts through a little mini-store on the website,” Wright said. “One of the more unique ways that we get money is from our drivers.”
“Drivers donate a certain amount of money for every spot their pit crew gains on pit road,” Wright continued. “Other drivers donate for twelve second or thirteen second stops.”
“That’s been a really cool source of donations,” Wright said. “In 2013, we had 100% participation for the drivers.”
In April of this year, Pit Stops for Poverty will hold its first golf tournament at Sapona Ridge County Club in Lexington, North Carolina. The group will also sponsor a Chase to End Childhood Hunger, with donations during the ten Chase races in honor of fans’ favorite drivers competing for the championship.
To celebrate the end of the year, the pit crew members are planning a Pit Stops for Poverty Fest where they will make their ‘big’ donation to Second Harvest Food Bank. The event will include driver appearances, live pit stops, and an autograph session from Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s pit crew, the ‘Flying Aces.’
The other very unique aspect of Pit Stops for Poverty is that they are not a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit. Instead they link directly to the Food Bank so that every penny, nickel, dime, quarter and dollar goes to those in need.
“When you click on our website to donate, a link comes up for Second Harvest Food Bank and they are the nonprofit,” Wright said. “All we do is funnel money directly to Second Harvest Food Bank.”
So, what really motivates these pit crew members as they attempt to change tires and gas cars in addition to doing good?
“Our goal is just to move North Carolina out from the bottom as far as childhood hunger,” Wright said. “Eventually we want to reach the whole United States.”
“Nobody in our country, especially no kid, should be hungry,” Wright said. “No kid should have to leave school Friday and have to get a back pack of food to get through the weekend.”
“With as much abundance as America has, that is ridiculous,” Wright said. “We want to put a dent in this problem.”
“That’s our only goal and any way we can do it, we want to do it.”
