GLENDORA, Calif.– NHRA and the Red Cross have joined forces to provide Atlanta race fans the opportunity to give back to those affected by the tornado disasters that have stuck the Southeast region of the country.
Fans attending this weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway will have the opportunity to make donations to the Red Cross at a booth set up in the midway in the pit area. The donations collected throughout the weekend will go directly to a Tornado Relief Fund for the Southeast region of the country impacted by the tornadoes and severe storms that ripped through the region.
“It certainly means a lot to be involved with this, especially with how close it hit to home,” said Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson. Johnson’s town of residence, Greeneville, Tenn., was one of the hardest hit areas during the April 27 storms. In total, seven people in the Greeneville area lost their lives and 57 homes were destroyed, with 36 others left damaged.
“The Red Cross does a great job,” Johnson continued. “They have local ties all over and they are right there getting their hands dirty along with everybody else. Everything that you give and everything that you do, it stays local and you can see the difference you are making and what the funds and manpower are being used for.”
“Growing up in California, I’m not used to the devastation caused by tornadoes,” said Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Steve Johnson, who saw the devastation hit within footsteps of his team shop in Birmingham, Ala. “It’s a major reality check to see how blessed we are. People don’t have houses, but our shop is still here. It’s very humbling. My crew chief Tim Kulungian’s neighborhood was hit really hard. The house next to his was completely destroyed.”
“This is home, and home and family are the most important thing to anybody,” said Johnson. “For me, I want to shift a little bit and I want racing to make a difference not only in Alabama, but around the country, especially when we race so close to those areas affected.”
The booth will be set up in the pit area throughout the weekend. Fans will have the opportunity on Saturday, following the second round of qualifying, to not only donate, but get their favorite drivers autographs, as a special autograph session with some of the biggest names in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing series, including Larry Dixon, Del Worsham, Bob Tasca, Spencer Massey, Allen Johnson, Steve Johnson David Grubnic, Cruz Pedregon, Jeff Arend, LE Tonglet, and more, will take place next to the Red Cross booth.
“We’re just so grateful for the kind of support NHRA has shown for us,” said Jeff Taylor, executive director of the East Georgia Chapter of the Red Cross. “Race fans across the country are known for their compassion and their caring spirit, and NHRA fans are no exception. There is an opportunity to do something for our neighbors, because you never know what neighbor is going to need relief, and that’s exactly what the Red Cross does. We’re supported 100 percent by donations. This allows us to better shelter, comfort and feed those that have been devastated.”
NHRA fans not attending the race that would still like to donate can do so by calling 1-800-RED CROSS, or online at http://eastgeorgia.redcross.org/. They can also text a $10 donation by texting the phrase “REDCROSS” to 90999.
