Auto Mission will be taking six young men from McFadden Ranch to the Scion Drag-n-Brag event at Texas Motor Speedway this summer. Participating youth will be doing community service activities by assisting Texas Raceway Ministries Chaplains. McFadden Ranch is a Texas Youth Commission (TYC) facility.
Serving as sponsors for Auto Mission during these activities is the Automotive Management Institute (AMI), the Automotive Service Association (ASA), Texas Motor Speedway, Texas Raceway Ministries and Scion-Toyota.
The Scion Drag-n-Brag program is an initiative to help curtail illegal street racing in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, metroplex and also provides a safer environment for racing enthusiasts.
Texas Motor Speedway will convert its pit lane on the 1.5-mile, high-banked oval into a 1/8-mile drag strip to accommodate the racing that will run each Friday evening for a six-week period beginning July 3 and concluding Aug. 7. More than 250 competitors are expected for Friday’s opening night at Texas Motor Speedway.
According to various statistics, 49 out of every 1,000 illegal street racers are injured on a national level and the highest fatality rate (58 percent) of that group is between the ages of 15 and 29.
“The young men from McFadden Ranch are really pumped – they probably will all be dreaming of driving in one of these events in the near future. I am looking forward to that happening. I am awestruck at the generosity and wonderful attitude of Texas Motor Speedway and Texas Raceway Ministries. Without them and the support of the Automotive Service Association none of this would be possible,” says Terry Legan with Auto Mission.
Ron Pyle, ASA president and chief staff executive, adds, “The Automotive Service Association has ‘adopted’ Auto Mission and we believe wholeheartedly that turning lives around is a truly worthy purpose. With continued support from our many partners such as AutoZone and Toyota, we multiply our efforts; and we are thankful because there are many young men and women today who need to know someone cares.”
The racing will be complemented by the “Show & Shine” program, in which car enthusiasts will show off their prized vehicles in the NASCAR Sprint Cup garage, take them for a parade lap on the oval and compete for top honors each week.
Opening night will also feature a fireworks display to celebrate the Fourth of July. It will be the “first” official fireworks display for the holiday as it is scheduled to begin at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
Entry fees are $20 for either the Scion Drag-n-Brag or “Show & Shine,” and $30 for a combination entry. The Scion Drag-n-Brag is open to non-competitors and admission for the general public for the infield/grandstands is $7. Fans can park for free in front of Gate 3 for the grandstands or the Express Lot for easier access to the infield.
For full details about these events, visit www.TexasMotorSpeedway.com or www.automission.org.
