At the Atlanta Motor Speedway last month, four wish kids got to meet their favorite NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series drivers and stars of the upcoming movie, The Benchwarmers. In addition to Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., the wish kids met and got autographs from Rob Schneider, Jon Heder and David Spade.

"Our requests for NASCAR wishes grows each year, and with the help of The NASCAR Foundation, we have been able to make many NASCAR wishes come true," said Amy Laws, director of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Western North Carolina.

"These kids have tremendous obstacles to overcome in their everyday lives, and for them to meet not only their favorite drivers, but to meet The Benchwarmers stars, made it an experience they will never forget."

The 10-day auction, which begins on April 10, will feature several items from the movie including authentic autographed jerseys worn by the stars during film production, a signed movie poster and an autographed replica hood of the No. 78 car driven by Kenny Wallace and sponsored by The Benchwarmers. Other items up for auction include end-of-the-year banquet banners signed by Gordon, Johnson and Earnhardt.

"We have been working with Make-A-Wish for 21 years, and we get to see first hand how much these experiences mean to them," said Sandy Marshall, executive director of The NASCAR Foundation. "With the success of the auction, we hope to build more lasting memories and see more smiles on the faces of these very special kids."

The proceeds from the auction will benefit the national and Central and Western North Carolina Make-A-Wish Foundation chapters.

For more information or to find out how to participate in the auction, visit www.nascar.com/foundation.

About the Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. The Make-A-Wish Foundation and NASCAR have been working together ever since the first wish request to meet Richard Petty was granted, over 21 years ago.

About The NASCAR Foundation
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc., (NASCAR) launched the NASCAR Foundation in January 2006. The Foundation is a 501 © (3) non-profit entity that embodies the compassion of the NASCAR Family and its commitment to serving communities. The Foundation supports a wide range of charitable initiatives that reflect the core values of the entire NASCAR Family. The NASCAR Foundation will use strength of the sport and its people to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most. For more information on the NASCAR Foundation, please visit the website: www.nascar.com/foundation.