NEWTON, Iowa (July 10, 2018) – NASCAR drivers have a longstanding reputation for giving back to the community. NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Daniel Hemric will carry on the sport’s philanthropic spirit in the inaugural U.S. Cellular 250 Hunger Fight on July 17.
When Meals form the Heartland visits Iowa Speedway on July 17, the driver of the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro will be among eager volunteers to package meals to help fight hunger. Hemric, Iowa Speedway staff and volunteers will work in an assembly line putting together rice and soy-based meals that can feed up to six people per package.
“People in Iowa are proud to be residents of a state that helps feed the world but many of our neighbors right here in central Iowa are at risk of hunger,” said Iowa Speedway President David Hyatt. “Seeing Daniel Hemric, a NASCAR Xfinity Series championship contender participate in this initiative is more than just heart-warming.
“To me, it further demonstrates how much our sport can relate to the needs of our population and play a major role in making sure families don’t go hungry.”
Meals from the Heartland is a nonprofit organization made up of volunteers who package non- perishable meals year-round for delivery to malnourished people in Iowa, across the United States and around the world.
The U.S. Cellular 250 Hunger Fight will begin in the Newton Club at Iowa Speedway at 10:00 a.m. CT with an orientation to explain the process with meal packaging to run through noon. Hemric will be in town to help promote the NASCAR Xfinity Series U.S. Cellular 250 presented by The Rasmussen Group on July 28. There will be a meet and greet with Hemric following the event.
About Meals from the Heartland
Meals from the Heartland is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization that empowers volunteers to package meals for food-insecure people around the globe, across the United States and right here in central Iowa. The inspiration for Meals from the Heartland started in 2007 during a packaging event held during Lent by a church in West Des Moines. Those involved were so excited by the result that they organized a community-wide packaging event that’s now known as the Annual Hunger Fight held at Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines. Since then, more than 125,000 volunteers have helped package nearly 50 million meals throughout the entire state of Iowa.
About Iowa Speedway
Iowa Speedway, The Fastest Short Track on the Planet, is a state-of-the-art 7/8-mile asphalt paved tri- oval race track and motorsports facility located in Newton, Iowa. Our 2018 schedule includes one more exciting race weekend: July 27-28 (NASCAR K&N Pro Series Casey’s General Store 150 and NASCAR