To officially kick off the restoration efforts for Racing for Wildlife’s first project – the Mill Lake Youth Camp – Racing for Wildlife and the Ryan Newman Foundation will gather with our partners at Victory Lane on June 13 for a brief ceremony promoting our restoration efforts at Mill Lake Youth Camp.
But that’s not all – throughout the weekend you’ll be seeing a lot more of Racing for Wildlife. We have become the official sponsor of the Racing For Wildlife 200 ARCA RE/MAX Series race at MIS on June 13. With this sponsorship we’ll be able to help get the word out to all race fans about the great work of Racing for Wildlife. Ryan will be in the SPEED booth during the ARCA race and will help call a portion the race, so be sure to tune in.
For those of you heading to the race this weekend, drop by our Racing for Wildlife tent in the Fan Plaza June 13-15 for Racing for Wildlife giveaways and fun for the whole family. Our booth will be located near the U.S. Army display on the north end of the MIS Fan Plaza.
Racing for Wildlife will also be raffling off a custom-built Cool City Customs motorcycle signed by your favorite NASCAR drivers. Tickets can be purchased at the Racing for Wildlife tent in the Fan Plaza. All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Racing for Wildlife. If you aren’t able to make it to the race to purchase tickets, you’ll also have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets online (more details to come).
Michigan International Speedway will proudly host the Racing For Wildlife 200 ARCA RE/MAX Series event for the next three years.
May 29, 2008
BROOKLYN, Mich. — Further strengthening its commitment to preserving the environment and its natural resources, Michigan International Speedway will proudly host the Racing For Wildlife 200 ARCA RE/MAX Series event for the next three years, track officials announced today.
The race entitlement is a joint venture with The Conservation Fund and the Ryan Newman Foundation, which formed Racing for Wildlife in 2007. That partnership is a first-of-its-kind initiative that invites sports fans, race sponsors and other conservation-minded individuals to join NASCAR driver Newman and The Conservation Fund to save America’s scenic lands.
The Racing for Wildlife 200 at MIS is set for Friday, June 13.
With support from MIS, Racing for Wildlife in 2007 launched an effort with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to restore Mill Lake Youth Camp. The historic camp, built in the 1930s, is approximately 30 miles north of MIS in the 20,000-acre Waterloo Recreation Area. The camp is located on a scenic lake that offers excellent recreation and fishing. This restoration project will reopen the camp to families as a year-round facility that can accommodate more than 140 people. When complete, the project will help preserve a part of Michigan’s great outdoors and educate children about the importance of taking care of our state’s land and waterways.
“I am very appreciative of Michigan International Speedway’s dedication to Racing for Wildlife and the Racing for Wildlife 200,” Newman said. “The restoration of Mill Lake Youth Camp will preserve a peaceful and beautiful place that I would be proud to be able to share with other families. My love of fishing and the outdoors was cultivated by my family when I was growing up so it’s important to keep traditions like that alive for the future.”
Track president Roger Curtis has made conservation one of his priorities since taking over at MIS two years ago. A father of three, the Indiana native and his family enjoy outdoors activities.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Racing for Wildlife to host the Racing for Wildlife 200,” Curtis said. “The race fans at Michigan International Speedway are true extensions of this facility; they’re not just consumers – they make MIS what it is. Racing for Wildlife understands the love of the outdoors for many of our fans. Ryan and his wife, Krissie, also share that love for the outdoors and truly want to preserve it with the help of The Conservation Fund and the Department of Natural Resources.”
Tickets to the Racing for Wildlife 200 are on sale by calling the speedway’s Ticket Hotline at 800-354-1010 or logging onto MISpeedway.com.
Other events during the June 13-15 weekend include the Racing for Wildlife ARCA RE/MAX Series 200-mile race on June 13 and the Cool City Customs 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on June 14. The season concludes Aug. 15-17 for the CARFAX 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series event and the 3M Performance 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.
About Racing for Wildlife
Racing for Wildlife is a first-of-its-kind initiative that invites sports fans, race sponsors and other conservation-minded individuals to join Ryan and the Fund to save America’s scenic lands. Together, The Conservation Fund and NASCAR driver Ryan Newman, through the Ryan Newman Foundation, with inaugural support from Michigan International Speedway, are leading the effort to preserve some of these special places — and are turning to the millions of Americans who love NASCAR and the outdoors to help. To make a donation or to learn more about Racing for Wildlife, please visit www.racingforwildlife.org.
Each year, Racing for Wildlife will pursue new conservation projects that offer recreational opportunities near urban areas so families can easily enjoy the outdoors in protected places. In selecting conservation projects, Racing for Wildlife will work with local land conservation groups and wildlife management agencies to find opportunities that fulfill state-recognized conservation priorities while inviting a new generation to experience the outdoors. MIS was the first to work with Racing for Wildlife, inspiring other speedways to begin offering support for the program. Other projects include protecting more than 1,000 acres in the Talladega National Forest near Talladega Superspeedway, a sister track to MIS.
About Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a wholly-owned subsidiary of International Speedway Corporation (ISC), a leading promoter of motorsports activities in the United States, currently promoting more than 100 events at 12 major motorsports facilities annually. To purchase tickets to events at MIS, or for more information, log on to MISpeedway.com or call the MIS ticket hotline at 1-800-354-1010.
About The Conservation Fund
The Conservation Fund is the nation’s foremost environmental nonprofit dedicated to protecting America’s land and water legacy for current and future generations. Seeking innovative conservation solutions for the 21st century, the Fund works to integrate economic and environmental goals. Since its founding in 1985, the Fund has helped its partners safeguard wildlife habitat, working landscapes, community “greenspace” and historic sites totaling more than 6 million acres. With 1% fundraising costs and 97% program allocation, The Conservation Fund is recognized as the nation’s top-rated environmental nonprofit by both the American Institute of Philanthropy and Charity Navigator.
