Speedway Children's Charities Has Biggest Race Weekend Ever

A picture-perfect autumn in the Granite State proved to be the ideal setting for not only a weekend of racing on the track, but a rewarding one off of it, too. The NH Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC) had its biggest race weekend in history on Sept. 23-25 and volunteers helped generate more than $363,000, which will benefit children and nonprofit groups across New England.

The NASCAR weekend at NH Motor Speedway in Loudon helped provide $186,000 to volunteer groups, while the NH Chapter of the Speedway Children’s Charities raised more than $177,000, bringing the grand total between the summer NH 301 and autumn Bad Boy Off Road 300 weekends to more than $611,000 in total.

“I’m not sure I can express the gratitude I have to our wonderful race fans and volunteers for everything they give during our race weekends throughout the year,” says Cheryl LaPrade, director of SCC’s NH Chapter. “We are eternally grateful by the continued support that we receive each year. The opportunity to make a difference in so many children’s lives is immeasurable.”

The Speedway Children’s Charities’ Laps for Charity, Clay Shoot, Dinner with Tony Stewart, Wicked Good Live Auction, Red Bucket Brigade, Camper Appreciation Party, helicopter rides, and miscellaneous donations helped the SCC raise more than $165,000 for local children's charities and groups. That number jumped to more than $177,000 thanks to a $12,500 donation from Bad Boy Off Road 300 pole winner Carl Edwards, helping make it the biggest fundraising weekend in history for the SCC’s NH Chapter.

All told, the NH Chapter of SCC raised more than $315,000 between the July and September NASCAR weekends.

New Hampshire Motor Speedway receives help from fundraising groups that assist with everything from parking to landscaping to cleaning to ushering. In turn, the speedway donates money to each group, which goes toward the nonprofit organization of which they represent.  A total of 58 volunteer organizations were represented during the most recent NASCAR weekend and volunteer groups raised nearly $300,000 between the July and September NASCAR weekends

The annual check distribution from the NH Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities will take place on Thursday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. at the Palace Theatre in Manchester.