The Betty Jane France Pediatric Center, Speediatrics, at Homestead Hospital is one of the many worthwhile charities that will benefit from money raised on NASCAR Day, held Friday, May 19. NASCAR Day is a nation-wide celebration, in which companies and individuals make a five dollar donation to the NASCAR Foundation and receive a special pin to wear to work, along with their favorite NASCAR apparel. The NASCAR Foundation supports a wide range of charities, including Speediatrics, backed by individuals and organizations in the NASCAR family.

Homestead-Miami Speedway employees purchased their NASCAR Day pins and wore them proudly on Friday. Pins were also on sale in the Homestead-Miami Speedway gift shop, which is visited by local and out-of-town race fans each day.

"The NASCAR Foundation and Speediatrics are such worthwhile programs and we are happy to be able to support them through NASCAR Day each year," said Homestead-Miami Speedway President Curtis Gray.

Assurant, a local company that provides a wide variety of insurance-related services, raised over $1,000 for the NASCAR Foundation through NASCAR Day pin sales. Employees decorated their cafeteria with driver flags, and pennant rope and enjoyed a visit from the Homestead-Miami Speedway Official Ford Championship Weekend Pace Truck, along with Speedway employee Victor Aldrich in a full racing suit and helmet. This was especially exciting to the children who attend school at the Satellite Learning Center of Cutler Ridge Elementary School, located on Assurant's corporate campus.

"You should have seen the smiles and high fives going on between the driver and the kids," said James Guilmartin of Assurant. "It was like he just won a race and was doing a victory greeting with his little fans!"

Linder Industrial Machinery, the title sponsor of the Grand Prix of Miami, held at Homestead-Miami Speedway in March, also joined in on the NASCAR Day fun. Employees purchased NASCAR Day pins and were encouraged to come to work on Friday in their racing gear. Additional companies that participated in the fundraising efforts surrounding NASCAR Day, include The Mayfair Hotel in Coconut Grove, employees of the City of Homestead, Homestead Hospital, the Homestead Chamber of Commerce, and Tony's Station Restaurant.

Overall, NASCAR Day 2006 was a success, with over 3,000 companies from across the nation participating, and more than 100,000 pins sold. As a result of NASCAR Day 2005, Homestead Hospital was presented with a $100,000 check for Speediatrics.