Jeff Gordon’s Success Spans Pocono Victory Lane to Ending Senior Hunger with AARP
Jeff Gordon is headed to the Irish hills of Michigan to race this weekend fresh off his victory at Pocono Raceway, his second win for the season and his 84th win, tying Hall of Fame inductee Darrell Waltrip and Hall of Famer Bobby Allison.
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[/media-credit]Gordon’s success is also carrying over off the track as his partnership with the AARP Foundation is making a real difference in ending senior hunger. The AARP Foundation has partnered with Gordon for 22 races as a primary sponsor this season to call attention to the issue of the elderly who often have to choose between buying groceries or filling their prescriptions.
“It came about organically,” Anisa Tootla, AARP Foundation’s Vice President for Hunger Programs, said of the Jeff Gordon/AARP Foundation partnership. “It started with a conversation at a race track. The AARP Foundation and Hendrick Motorsports found each other at the right time.”
“We know that NASCAR fans are some of the most charitable, community-minded sports fans in the country and they have a track record of commitment,” Tootla continued. “We also know that Jeff Gordon is one of the most philanthropic drivers in the circuit. It was the right fit at the right time.”
The AARP Foundation has taken on its first ever cause-related marketing initiative smack dab in the middle of America’s fastest growing sport. From their CEO Barry Rand to their Foundation staff in every state in the nation, all have been convinced that NASCAR, Jeff Gordon, and Hendrick Motorsports are the perfect partners to raise awareness of the issue of senior hunger.
“There is very little awareness of the issue of senior hunger,” Tootla said. “There are 51 million people who face the threat of hunger and over 6 million of them are over the age of 60 years.”
“Very few people are aware of this problem and it’s a growing problem with the aging of the population and the recession, which makes it worse,” Tootla continued. “This partnership is unique in that realm of bringing awareness to an issue that very few people know about.”
The AARP Foundation and Jeff Gordon have also gotten creative in the ways that they are working together in activating this unique sponsorship. Not only does Gordon pitch donating to the cause every time he is interviewed on the track, but his show car is traveling throughout the country, attracting crowds and raising funds as well as awareness.
“We’ve had a variety of events, food drives, and relationships with grocery stores,” Tootla said. “Part of our local activation has been a great combination of local businesses, food banks, our State organization and really driving the awareness, as well as raising funds and food for local organizations helping hungry seniors.”
“We also have made contributions to local food banks to feed hungry seniors,” Tootla continued. “The ISC tracks themselves have made food donations through the extra food at the end of the race weekend.”
Just as Jeff Gordon uses social media to keep in touch with his extensive fan base, the AARP Foundation and the Drive to End Hunger are also using the social media platform to connect Gordon’s fans to the cause.
“We have a Drive to End Hunger presence on Facebook and Twitter,” Tootla said. “They are active sites, particularly on Facebook.”
“We’ve seen an uptick of friends and tweets and retweets with every passing week where Jeff races,” Tootla continued. “It’s a destination site not only for NASCAR fans but the broader population.”
“We’ve definitely seen a lot of interest and noticed the passion of the race fans,” Tootla said. “The number of responses that we get when Jeff is in the car is amazing.”
“When Jeff talks about hunger, it’s really a call to action and people respond,” Tootla continued. “He is certainly a huge draw.”
“We had an event in Kansas where he did a check presentation to a food bank and drew over a 1,000 people,” Tootla said. “He’s a wonderful spokesperson for the cause. It’s been a great partnership.”
The driver of the No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet could not agree more.
“I really love the fact that since Daytona they’ve served over 2 million meals,” Gordon said. “In the first couple of months, you see the numbers start to go up and it seems like in the last couple of months, things have really taken off. I think it’s awesome.”
“You certainly hope that they are having success,” Gordon continued. “They are very new to the sport and what it takes to be a sponsor in this sport.”
“Sometimes you just hit the ground running and I feel like they’ve done a great job with that,” Gordon said. “Because of that, they’ve seen the results.”
“I feel like it’s a program that is only going to get stronger and better as they learn more about what it’s like being a part of this sport and what our fans are like.”
The AARP Foundation’s Drive to End Hunger and Jeff Gordon will be next rolling into the Irish hills of Michigan for this weekend’s racing activities. The AARP Foundation will be right there with him, presenting the Food Bank of South Central Michigan with $10,000 to help feed hungry seniors in the area.
“We have a long way to go to end senior hunger,” Tootla said. “Everyone can help in one way or another and every contribution at www.drivetoendhunger.org helps.”
“It’s been a joy working with Jeff and Hendrick Motorsports,” Tootla continued. “They are charitably minded, committed to the cause and committed to ending hunger. We couldn’t think of better partners.”
No Golden Horseshoe Here: Johnson Looks for Michigan Win in 19th Attempt
There’s not a whole lot left Jimmie Johnson could do that would surprise people. Entering Michigan on Sunday though it’s nothing but surprises when it comes to the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet team of the five-time and defending Sprint Cup Series champions.
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[/media-credit]To start, after 14 races in 2011 they’ve only seen victory lane once, at Talladega. Not at tracks where Johnson normally takes up home in the winner’s circle like Las Vegas, Fontana or Martinsville. This time last season he’d already collected three trophies but not so this year.
Maybe that’s not surprising at all, but the next statistic should be. Heading into Michigan, Johnson is 0-18, goose egged, shut out, win less!
Johnson being o-fer in any context doesn’t happen often. But the driver who has won championships, Brickyard 400s, Daytona 500’s and many other races, has yet to win at Michigan.
While there’s also three other tracks – Chicago, Watkins Glen, Kentucky (new to the schedule) and Homestead – it hasn’t been for a lack of trying, especially Michigan.
“We’ve been close and our fuel mileage has been kind of our nemesis with two or three different things that have taken place there,” said Johnson. “We’ve led a fair amount of laps over the years and just kind of haven’t had the luck or the mileage or whatever it is at the end of the race.”
Had it not been for fuel mileage, Johnson could easily have multiple Michigan wins. Instead, the only thing that has slowed down and stopped him the last five years has been Michigan and a sputtering fuel tank.
In 2006 he was running third when he ran out of fuel with eight laps to go. In 2009 he was leading when he again ran out of fuel coming to the white flag. Later that same season Johnson, again leading, again ran out of fuel this time with two laps to go.
His luck is eventually bound to change. Even without a victory Johnson has led over 500 laps at the track and is a yearly contender. In his 18 races though, Johnson only has two top fives and seven top 10s. His average starting position (7.8) is much better than his average finish (15.2). Yet, he still looks forward to Michigan every season.
“Looking forward to going back,” he said. “We’re always looking forward to going racing in the area where the manufacturers are based and I want to put on a good show for all the Chevrolet fans and do my part to represent the bowtie. We’ve been making a lot of progress on our intermediate setups and race cars. I think this could be a win for the 48 this weekend.”
Coming off a fourth place finish in Pocono, Johnson still sits second in points but now just six markers out of the lead. Much like his career at Michigan, he’s been running well this season, just not well enough.
The surprises for Johnson don’t end there. If Sunday at Michigan ends for him like many of the previous ones have, he’ll still be able to celebrate on a personal note. Sunday is Father’s Day and for the first time it’ll mean a little bit more as it’s the first he’ll celebrate as a father himself.
Genevieve Marie Johnson was born last year, July 7, to Johnson and wife Chandra. Since her arrival he’s won two races and his fifth championship to which she was present at all. But if he could find victory lane on Sunday in Michigan it would be special for the Johnson’s for more than one reason.
“Really just hanging with the girls,” said Johnson when asked about his Father’s Day plans. “That’s all I’m after just spending time with my family. Will be exciting to say the least. Don’t know what to expect – I haven’t been through it before so I don’t know what to think from an emotional side, but very proud of my family and looking forward to that day.”
Earnhardt Jr’s rumblings during his winless streak
As I was watching this weekend’s race at Pocono Raceway, during one of the caution flag laps I noticed Dale Earnhardt Jr. holding something up on his steering wheel. Upon a closer look (the in car camera) I noticed that he was writing things down on a note pad.
Curious as I am, I zoomed in on the note pad. It was labeled, “V”. I was thinking, what the heck is “V”. Is he writing a letter to a girl named “V”? Is he trying to send a message to someone else on the track? Are aliens going to attack and Earnhardt Jr. is the only one that knows?
Well upon closer examination, he also had a numbered list below the “V”. Number 1 said “Gas”, number 2 said “get to the front” and so forth. Now I was really confused. Maybe the alien theory is correct and I need to get some gas and make sure I am near the front when they come.
So I waited until the conclusion of the race. On pit road he did not exit his car right away and started writing on the note pad yet again. I see “48” and then “24X2” and a hastily scribbled out “106” and a bold “107!!!!!!” at the bottom.
Now the entire picture came into focus…… Earnhardt Jr. needs gas to make it to the front for his first “V”ictory in now 107 races since his teammates “48” and “24” have already been there this season.
Clearly this is a satire look at Earnhardt and the Pocono race, but the no. 88 every week, comes up a little short, either by inches or by laps.
All eyes will be on Earnhardt Jr. this weekend as his visits the site of his last victory three years ago at Michigan International Speedway.
Will he break this long win less streak or continue his current competitive consistent pace and break the more important streaks like making the “chase” and his first series championship?
Is it likely for Earnhardt Jr. to win the championship without a win? It’s highly unlikely since without the bonus points for winning a race, he could possibly enter the “chase” already down up to 10 points. Then most drivers pick up the pace….aka JJ, so a win or even multiple wins will be crucial entering and throughout the final 10 “chase” races.
So keep your eyes on the No. 88 this weekend and watch the in car camera, he might be writing down something important…. ;)
NASCAR Beginnings Featuring Richie Evans
On Tuesday, June 14, 2011, the NASCAR Hall of Fame announced the 2012 class of inductees. Richard “Richie” Evans was named as part of this new class and joins fellow legends Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Inman and Glen Wood as part of an elite group.
For those who only follow the Sprint Cup Series, his name may be unfamiliar. But a close look at his record makes it immediately obvious why he was included in such a prestigious class.
Evans won nine National Modified Championships, including eight consecutive championships from 1978 to 1985. His eight straight championships still stand as a record in any NASCAR division to date. He has been hailed as the best to ever drive the asphalt modified circuit.
During his career he won more than 400 feature races and over 30 track championships. One of his best seasons was in 1979 when Evans ran 60 races capturing 54 top five finishes that included 37 victories.
The International Motorsports Hall of Fame lists his achievements as “one of the supreme accomplishments in motorsports.”
Evan’s left his father’s farm at the age of 16 to work in a garage in Rome, New York. He soon ventured into the world of racing as a drag racer but eventually switched to stock cars. In 1965 he began running in the Modified division.
Evans was not only a gifted driver but often spent 100 hours a week working on his own cars, leaving nothing to chance.
“Working with the car and working on it in the garage every week is an advantage,” Evans once said. “While I’m working on the car, I’m thinking about every lap I rode in that thing. It’s not like the mechanic who stood and watched it during the feature and then has to make some decisions.”
Nicknamed the “Rapid Roman,” Evans won his first NASCAR Modified Championship in 1973 at the age of 32. He won his second title in 1978 and continued his reign as “king” of the modified division through 1985.
Evans was a winner in more ways than one. He won the Most Popular Driver award nine times and was highly regarded by even the competitors he raced against each week. He was well known for his down to earth manner and his willingness to help others.
In the eyes of his fans, Evans was a true star.
Once before a race at Daytona, Paul Newman was sitting next to Richie Evans on the pit wall talking when a seven year old boy spotted his favorite driver. He walked over to the pair and when he got there, Paul Newman said “I don’t give autographs.” The boy innocently answered, “I wanted Richie’s autograph.” Evans just smiled and gave the boy his autograph.
Richie Evans never competed in the highest levels of NASCAR. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that this meant he wasn’t good enough. Richie Evans was, and still remains, one of the best racers in any NASCAR division.
In 2010, Tommy Baldwin and Steve Park teamed up to race a Richie Evans tribute car at Daytona to pay their respects to this legendary driver.
“Having Richie Evans along for the ride for this weekend and honoring him is something special to all of us,” said Baldwin, “especially in the NASCAR short track community around the country. Richie was somebody we all looked up to and when he came to town, we knew we had to beat him to win. He made us all work harder and I think that prepared a lot of us for the Sprint Cup level.”
Evans had already clinched his last championship when tragedy struck. On October 24, 1985, Evans was killed during a practice session in a crash at Martinsville Speedway. A heartbroken racing community mourned the death of one of their own.
Tony Siscone, a fellow modified racer, summed up the shock and sorrow that many were feeling.
“Good old Richie just did it to us again. He left under his own conditions and lived his life on his own terms.”
Accomplishments:
- Named #1 on NASCAR’s Modified all-time Top 10 list.
- Only retired number in NASCAR in any series — #61 on the Whelen Modified Tour.
- Named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.
- Selected by fans as NASCAR‘s Most Popular Driver in Modified Division nine times.
- International Motorsports Hall of Fame 1996.
- National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame 1986.
- New York State Stock Car Association Hall of Fame.
- New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame inaugural 1998 class.
- FOAR SCORE Hall of Fame: 1986 – inaugural class.
- Oswego Speedway Hall of Fame 2000.
- As part of the 25th anniversary of the NASCAR Weekly Series in 2006, Evans was named one of the series’ All Time Top 25 drivers.
- 2010 nominee to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
- Evans’ #61 was retired at his home track – Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon, New York in 2008.
- 2011 nominee to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
- 2012 Will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame
Thanks to Area Auto Racing News and allthatmatters.org for quotes.
