The Betty Jane France Pediatric Center, Speediatrics, at Homestead Hospital will benefit directly as the nation participates in NASCAR's largest annual charitable event - NASCAR Day - this Friday, May 20.  To help support this cause, the City of Homestead has proclaimed Friday as NASCAR Day encouraging the local community to join many of NASCAR's 75 million fans worldwide in celebrating the sport while giving back to the community.

"We're pleased to proclaim May 20th, 2005 as NASCAR Day in the City of Homestead," said Mayor Roscoe Warren. "With NASCAR crowning its champions here in Homestead each November during Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway and with such a great cause as Speediatrics at Homestead Hospital, NASCAR Day is the perfect way to celebrate NASCAR and give back to the community."

For NASCAR Day, fans, businesspeople and students will earn the opportunity to wear their favorite NASCAR gear to work or school in exchange for a minimum $5 donation to the 2005 NASCAR Day Designated Charities, including SpeediatricsR at Homestead Hospital.  Participants will also receive a commemorative NASCAR Day 2005 lapel pin (while supplies last).  To participate in NASCAR Day, individuals and businesses can call Homestead-Miami Speedway for more information at (305) 230-5000.

The Betty Jane France Pediatric Center, Speediatrics, at Homestead Hospital is the only dedicated pediatrics unit in deep South Miami-Dade. Speediatrics is designed to make children feel as comfortable as possible during a hospital stay.  The unit's hallway walls, patient rooms, and nurse's station are painted with a racetrack theme, including checkerboard patterns and race cars. Colorful cartoon characters, named "Clutch," "Traxx," "Curves" and "6-Speed," are featured on patient room walls and ceiling tiles. 

In addition to the Betty Jane France Pediatric Center, SpeediatricsR, at Homestead Hospital, NASCAR Day will also benefit the Speediatrics unit at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Victory Junction Gang Camp in North Carolina, and Speedway Children's Charities.

Individuals and organizations can also participate in NASCAR Day by visiting www.nascar.com.  Individuals can make their $5 donation through the website and will be mailed the commemorative lapel pin.  Businesses, schools and other organizations can take part by requesting a NASCAR Day Participation Kit.  The kit includes posters, pins, envelopes and a Crew Chief Manual - everything needed to jump start NASCAR Day within the organization. 

NASCAR's championships finales will take center stage, November 17-20 during Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  The spectacular race weekend will feature the season-finales for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series.  For race tickets or more information on Homestead-Miami Speedway and its events, please call (305) 230-RACE or log on www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com.