At the 2014 Canadian Motorsports Expo, Alex Tagliani announced that he will run the full NASCAR Canadian Tire Series schedule behind the wheel of the No. 18 EpiPen/Pfizer Canada Dodge.
Following that announcement, Tagliani Autosport announced on Friday that they will be using cars out of the 22 Racing stable, which is home to 2013 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Champion Scott Steckly.
I’m very excited to have Alex drive out of our 22 Racing stable this season,” team owner/driver Scott Steckly stated in the press release. “Tag is a proven professional that will make our team even better with his passion and grit to be the best at what he does. He will bring another level of competition to the Series, so that means we will all have to race harder for wins and the championship with Alex out there.”
“I have long respected Scott Steckly’s racing operation and their high degree of success in The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series,” Tagliani boasted. “They are so professional as a team working with their sponsors. I cannot think of a better partnership to create a lasting bond in this series to provide the best service and effort possible for our sponsors and partners going forward. I am very excited with this new alliance.”
Tagliani felt the move to the NCAT would benefit himself and his partners in spreading awareness about food allergies.
“The fact that we have a Canadian platform that we have to go to different cities across the country was important for our group – our sponsors – and the message that EpiPen is trying to pass with this growing health issue,” Tagliani commented.
Approximately 2.5 million Canadians have at least one food allergy that effects them and Tagliani’s goal is to spread awareness and educate people across Canada about allergies. The cause is important to Tagliani as he suffers from an allergy to peanuts.
“It’s a program that is very dear to my heart,” he commented. “For those of you who don’t know, I’m very allergic to nuts, peanuts and almonds so I carry my Epipen wherever I go so it’s great to have our racecar carry that message. It’s great to use the Canadian Tire Series as our platform to spread our message across the country.”
To help spread awareness, Tagliani will once again host the Summer of Tag (Treating Allergies with Genuine care), supporting Anaphylaxis Canada in the effort to engage people in conversation about managing food allergies and what to do if someone is having a reaction. Tagliani will visit schools in three Canadian cities – Montreal, Toronto and Edmonton – where he will talk to students about the issue.
Once again for the second year in a row, Tagliani will host a Helmet Design contest – while also hosting a racecar design contest for the first time. Children will be encouraged to create a design of their own with Tagliani choosing a design to wrap his racecar with and a helmet to wear. The helmet with the winning design will be auctioned off at the end of the season to raise funds for Anaphylaxis Canada.
“We are very excited to launch the Summer of TAG again this year,” Laurie Harada, Executive Director of Anaphylaxis Canada, said. “As the mother of a son with multiple food allergies, I appreciate how Alex can inspire young people, encourage them to follow their dreams, and not let food allergies define them.”
For more information about the Summer of TAG, school visits, Helmet Design contest and the Race Car Design contest, check out www.summeroftag.com.
