DARLINGTON, S.C. (May 3, 2011) – – JTG Daugherty Racing is carrying the Snyder’s-Lance Inc. (Nasdaq-GS: LNCE) brand Tom’s on the hood of Bobby Labonte’s No. 47 Toyota Camry with a special patriotic scheme along with a couple special decals at Darlington Raceway for the Showtime Southern 500 on Saturday, May 7.
With the recent partnership of Snyder’s-Lance Inc. and the Armed Forces Foundation, the racing organization has positioned the foundation’s logo on the quarter panels to show support to their mission of promoting the morale, welfare and quality of life of those within the United States armed forces community, including members of the military and their families. The campaign will run throughout the summer months encouraging consumers to support the Foundation via an in-store and Facebook donation drive along with a matching gift of $25,000 from Snyder’s-Lance Inc.
“Snyder’s-Lance is very active in the community and nationally and it’s great to see firsthand all that they do to support military organizations for active soldiers and veterans,” Labonte said. “We are very blessed to be able to do what we love in our country thanks to our troops that sacrifice so much to protect our freedom. We’re running a patriotic scheme with the Armed Forces Foundation thanks to David Singer (Snyder’s-Lance CEO) and everyone at Snyder’s-Lance. It’s a small way for us to be able to say thank you to our troops and their families.
“Also, on Wednesday, Brad Daugherty and I have the privilege of spending time with eight soldiers from Fort Jackson (Columbia, SC) on a fishing trip in Cross (SC) on Santee Cooper Lake thanks to Snyder’s-Lance,” Labonte continued. “We’re really looking forward to it and we’ll have a lot of fun out there.”
In addition to having presence from the Armed Forces Foundation, JTG Daugherty Racing is placing an American Red Cross decal on the C-post highlighting states affected by deadly spring storms. Since March 31, the American Red Cross has provided help to people devastated by tornadoes, floods and wildfires in 16 states. The American Red Cross depends on financial donations to help in times of disaster. There are many ways to make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief to help the thousands of people who have been affected by these disasters. Visit www.redcross.org , call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation (standard message and data rates may apply). Any donation, large or small, will help. For example, $3 can provide a comfort kit for someone in a disaster. $6 can cover the cost of a blanket, $10 the cost of a hot meal. For $150, someone’s donation can cover the cost of providing food and shelter to a family of four for a day they spend in a shelter.
“Our thought and prayers go out to all of the families affected by the deadly storms,” Labonte said. “So many people have been displaced and our hearts go out to everyone that has been touched. This has been a record tornado season that continues to devastate communities across the South. Red Cross disaster teams are working so hard to provide people with shelter, meals, emotional support and essential relief supplies (gloves, shovels, rakes, tarps, coolers, etc.). There are ways you can help by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation (standard message and date rates may apply).”
“In addition to donating to the Red Cross, NASCAR has also responded to the devastation caused by the outbreak of tornadoes,” Labonte continued. “They have created the NASCAR Unites Disaster Relief Fund. Visit www.NASCAR.COM/Unites to find out more on how you can make a difference.”
With a great sense of purpose this weekend, Labonte is hoping to put his No. 47 Tom’s Toyota Camry out front to drive home the team’s messages. Labonte’s track record at Darlington Raceway includes a victory in September 2000, a pole award, five top-five and 11 top-10 finishes in 30 starts there.
Ironically, Labonte’s only Southern 500 victory came in a backup car after taking a provisional. With inclement weather wreaking havoc that day, the 21-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winner was in the right place at the right time. He had beaten the field out of the pits. Within minutes the track was drenched from rain and Labonte, under the ninth and final caution of the day, captured the victory.
”Reflecting on that day, it was kind of a strange day in a lot of ways,” Labonte said. ”We just happened to be in the right place at the right time. We didn’t have the fastest car, but we were able to beat everyone out of the pits and capitalize when the track was drenched the final time. Now, I’m looking forward to being back at Darlington for obvious reasons – – its rich history and it’s just a track I love going to.”
Live coverage from Darlington Raceway of the Showtime Southern 500 on FOX begins at 7:30 p.m. ET and 6:30 p.m. ET on MRN Radio.
