By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer
Icons of the NASCAR and motorsport industry from the past and present met with NASCAR fans on Tuesday night at the NASCAR Technical Institute to raise money for abused children at the 31st Annual Stocks for Tots.
Stocks for Tots is promoted by the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame founder and board chair Don Miller. The end of year fundraiser benefits the Iredell County chapter of Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN). Averaging $15,000 raised each year, Stocks for Tots has raised between $500,000 and $1 Million.
For Miller, success at Stocks for Tots is guaranteed just by the fact that the event takes place:
“There’s 10 ways to look at it, but to me, I think it’s a success if we do it. I think it’s probably the most important day of the year after all of this Christmas. And think about this, think about the kids that aren’t going to have a Christmas if we don’t do this.”
In total, 50 $100 VIP tickets and 200 $50 tickets were sold to race fans. The silent auction raised an estimated $5,000. The silent auction included racing memorabilia, sheet metal, among other items donated from Team Penske, Kyle Busch Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing, Hattori Racing Enterprises, and other local businesses.
The money raised helps pay for Christmas presents for children. Those who could not attend donated new, unwrapped gifts to the NCARHoF in Mooresville, N.C. The Hall of Fame continues to accept gifts and donations to benefit SCAN throughout the year.
The 250 race fans paid for the opportunity to receive autographs from numerous motorsports legends including Elliott Forbes-Robinson, Donnie Allison, and Bobby Labonte, 20 current NASCAR drivers including Austin Cindric, Chris Buescher, and Matt DiBenedetto.
“When I see these guys, you know, the older guys, I’ve known for 30, 40 years come, it triggers memories that makes the day even better,” Miller explained. “People call all the time, ‘Why do you think of this guy? What do you think of that guy?,’ because that was all those what I did, I found young drivers.
“The guy that’s really got my attention right now is Cole Custer. If that thing’s got the wheel. He’s like Cale Yarborough. Even if he doesn’t have the best car, he’s going to get everything there is out of it. So that makes me smile, and when I see him volunteer to give up his time, that’s the kind of guy that I admire.”
DiBenedetto was one of several NASCAR personalities attending Stocks for Tots for the first time. Joining him were Harrison Burton, Christian Eckes, Grant Enfinger, Austin Hill, Max McLaughlin, Michael Self, NASCAR spotter Earl Barban, the Scene Vault’s Rick Houston, and PRN’s Mark Garrow.
DiBenedetto expressed his amazement of Stocks for Tots and its’ cause:
“It’s awesome. The turnout is amazing, and the cause is so deep. It’s just for a great cause of amazing turnout by drivers, crew chiefs, spotters, lots of different people in the industry and all the fans. I’ve heard a lot about the event and when I was asked and knew I’d be in town; I was excited to be able to attend.”
The NASCAR Cup Series driver continued, stating that he already hoped to attend next year:
“I would say so. If I’m here, this is definitely an event that’s neat to take part in and anything that’s for a great cause. As good, creative of a cause that this is too. It’s just neat to be a part of it.”
Joining Cindric and Buescher for returning drivers were Jordan Anderson, Ray Black, Jr., Cole Custer, Gray Gaulding, David Gilliland, Todd Gilliland, Thad Moffitt, Joe Nemechek, Ryan Newman, David Ragan, and Austin Wayne Self.
“It’s just a great cause that I think everybody in the sport gets behind,” Custer stated. “So, it’s just awesome to be a part of, for a great reason. I think we all look forward to it every year.”
The NASCAR personalities not only had fun with the race fans, but with each other. Before leaving, Ragan cut the line to jokingly ask Buescher for an autograph and wish him a happy holiday. Todd Gilliland also got an autograph from one of the legends participating in the event.
Custer briefly ‘commandeered’ a container of cookies from the refreshment table as he waited for the line of race fans. He returned the cookies after a volunteer provided him with extra hero cards for autographs.