The auction will feature a Sunoco Racing fuel can, autographed Sunoco Victory flags and an autographed race helmet, signed by more than 30 drivers from the Chicagoland Race. Also up for auction is a Pace Car ride for two people before the start of the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 race on Sunday, August 3 and a parade lap ride for one in the official pace car before the race.  Bidders will also have the chance to win a super VIP experience for the race which includes four 3-day skybox tickets valued at $2,000, food and beverage, pit passes, a VIP tour given by a Track Ambassador and the ability for one person to stand on stage during the official driver introductions.

Sunoco has arranged for 100% of the auction proceeds to benefit the SEPA Chapter’s Red Cross House, a short-term residence in West Philadelphia where hundreds of local families every year begin their recovery from fires, floods, and other disasters affecting their lives.

Celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, the Red Cross House is a 33,000-square-foot with 25 hotel-style family “suites” (bath, desk, kitchen sink, cabinets, dressers and bunks).  Since April 2003, Red Cross House has provided 104,636 nights of shelter to families with nowhere to turn but the Red Cross. Ninety-two percent of disaster clients who stay at Red Cross House have an annual household income of less than $35,000.

The Red Cross will also receive a portion of the proceeds raised from The NASCAR Foundation Track Walk  on Saturday, August 2, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. Fans can register to participate in the Track Walk at WWW.NASCAR.COM/foundation and walk with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver Kasey Kahne.

For more information or to find out how to participate in the auction, visit WWW.NASCAR.COM/foundation.

- more -

NASCAR Foundation Online Auction Benefits SEPA Chapter/Add Last

The Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 is a partnership of Sunoco, Pocono Raceway, and the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter to provide much-needed funds to help people throughout the tri-state region recover from fires, floods, and other disasters. 

As part of this partnership, Pocono Raceway is also donating ten percent of the ticket revenue generated by online ticket buyers who use the Red Cross promo code, REDCROSS, to American Red Cross Chapters in the tri-state area.  The first 1,500 ticket buyers using the Red Cross promo code will receive a free pre-race Pit/Paddock Pass ($50 value) and Souvenir Program Book and Commemorative Die Cast Car ($15 Value) as an added incentive. Tickets can be purchased at www.poconoraceway.com.

ABOUT AMERICAN RED CROSS SEPA CHAPTER – The American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.  The Red Cross is not a government agency.  All Red Cross disaster assistance is free of charge and made possible thanks to the generosity of people in our region who donate their time, money and blood.  Last year, the SEPA Chapter responded to 905 disasters (834 were fires); operated 18 disaster shelters; housed 1,184 people, including 450 children at Red Cross House; provided 3,253 Armed Forces Emergency Services to 1,901 military families; trained and certified 111,739 people in lifesaving techniques; reached 836,974 people with Red Cross educational outreach; donated 69,853 volunteer hours to help collect 99,853 pints of blood; traced 19 Holocaust cases; graduated 259 nurse aides; recruited and trained 7,664 volunteers at the SEPA Chapter; operated 20 Red Cross Clubs in the region; and supported Lifeline personal emergency response for 1,974 vulnerable older adults.