The Racing Against Cancer™ Team Makes Record Donation of $52,094.52 in 2000

Westbrook, CT (December 12, 2000)

It is often said that one person cannot make a difference. Jon Blanchette HAS made a difference. Today, he is one man among a dedicated and hardworking group, but it was this man’s dedication to his wife’s wishes that started the ball rolling. Jon Blanchette found the Racing Against Cancer™ Team in 1997 after cancer claimed the life of his wife Jodi in 1994. The purpose of the team was to generate awareness and funding for the American Cancer Society.

"It was her dream to make something good come from all she went through", said Blanchette on December 8, 2000 at the Annual Racing Against Cancer™ Team check presentation in the Acapulco Room at the Foxwoods Resort Casino. The something good totals $115,472.15 in contributions to the American Cancer Society over the last four years. From it’s humble beginnning the Racing Against Cancer™ Team has blossomed into a true marketing effort. The program initially raised funds through a donation made directly from Foxwoods Resort Casino equivalent to the season long race winnings of two race drivers. Contributions were also raised with a Racing Against Cancer™ raffle and a number of charitable events. Today the Racing Against Cancer Team raises funds for the American Cancer Society through a variety of channels.

Foxwoods still contributes a donation equivalent to the season-long race winnings generated by Scott E. Gregory in the American Race Truck Series and beginning in 2000 those of the C&D Offshore Racing Powerboat owned by Mike D’Andreaand Carl Crocetti. Foxwoods has expanded it’s involvement to include sponsorship of the American Race Trucks Northeast Division. John O’Brien, the CFO at Foxwoods, along with a number of Foxwoods executives got together and contributed to the purse of the American Race Trucks in an effort to attract more drivers.

Racing Against Cancer™ Nights have appeared at a number of tracks throughout New England including Sugar Hill Speedway (NH), Star Speedway (NH), Seekonk Speedway (MA), Stafford Motor Speedway (CT), and Winchester Speedpark(NH). Several race teams have joined the fight through donations and volunteerism.

Grizco Racing and Brad Leighton helped create a program that brought not only added contributions, but national TV exposure as well. A group of young racers from Sugar Hill Speedway banded together to create the Racing Against Cancer Junior Ambassadors. The likes of Eli Lussier, Richie Dusett, Josh Currier, and Sean Caisse chipped in to raise money through raffles and collecting soda can tabs. he Paul Brown RAC Team along with 2000 Star Speedway Street Stock champion Pat Floyd donated race winnings to the effort as well.

Steve Bednardcyzk and the #23 truck on the Racing Against Cancer™ Truck Series donated 25% of his winnings and Troystar Motorsports, Arthur LeBlanc, Tom Fox, and countless others joined the fight to help the Racing Against Cancer team make a record breaking contribution to the American Cancer Society in 2000.

Friday, December 8, 2000, the Racing Against Cancer™ Team presented the American Cancer Society a check for $42,094.52 and to David’s House of New Hampshire a check in the amoun of $10,000. "The money collected here is truly making a difference. The work that you are doing is making a difference", said Sr. VP of Income Development for the American Cancer Society. The contribution was made up of race winnings, raffle earnings, and personal donations garned throughout the 2000 racing season.

The Racing Against Cancer™ Team is still maintained by it’s core members Blanchette, Gregory, the Foxwoods Resort & Casino employees, and a number of Foxwoods volunteers. Founder Blanchette credits fellow Foxwoods employee, Scott Gregory, with much ofthe program’s success. "There are so many of us who work to make the RAC work, but the fact is Scott puts us all to shame. We put all our free time in, but Scott puts in all his free time and then some. Without Scott Gregory we would be hard pressed to stay afloat", continued Blanchette. "He is tireless in his efforts, he never misses an opportunity to promote RAC".

Jon and Scott are quick to acknowledge the role of Steve Fales, formerly of Power Mist Fuels, for his efforts. "Steve’s contacts in the racing business allowed RAC to move forward and become the success it is", said Gregory. The Racing Against Cancer™ Team has developed into a highly visible entity.

The future looks bright for the Racing Against Cancer™ Team on all fronts. Scott Gregory will hand over the reigns of the Foxwoods Racing Against Truck Series ride to Chris Correll. Gregory turns his attention to the SK Modified division at Thompson International Speedway in 2001. Chris Kokosa, who competes at Lebanon Valley Speedway in both a big-block and small-block Modified, will join the team in 2001 as well. Steve Fales will take on a more active role with Scott Gregory to take the Racing Against Cancer™ Team to the next level.

The climb to the next level will begin at the 21st Annual Racearama on March 2, 3, and 4th at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, MA. Let's continue to make a difference.

Racing Against Cancer™ At Sugar Hill

Westbrook, CT (August 13, 2000)

Special Guests representing the Racing Against Cancer Team - Originator, John Blanchette and American Race Truck Driver, Scott Gregory were on hand Saturday night for the second annual "Racing Against Cancer Night". Also in attendance was Scott's fellow competitor, Chris Hammond displaying his racer. All funds raised at the event were donated to the American Cancer Society. Sugar Hill Ambassadors also presented their raffle donations and a sizeable amount of can tabs which were collected for the Dana Farber Institute for Cancer Research.

Sugar Hill Ambassadors, including Richie Dusett from Rochester, NH, Sean Caisse from Pelham, NH, Eli Lussier from Northfield, and Josh Currier from Newport, NH competed in their respective divisions that evening, and all finished in the top five.

Richie Dusett took the victory in his Junior division. He started on the pole and led the race for his entire 25-lap feature.

Sean Caisse took home the second place finish in his Junior Mini-Sprint. He started on the pole until the halfway mark when he slipped back to second and maintained that position to the stripe.

Third place went to Eli Lussier in the Tiger Sprint Division after starting fourth. He made his way to first on lap 9. He was then shuffled back to fourth and scrambled his way back into the top spot on lap 23. With two to go, he was freight-trained by a line of traffic and fought to the line for a third place finish.

In the Junior Champ division, Josh Currier finished fifth. He started third and on the first lap made his way into second and held that position until the halfway point. As the remaining laps winded down, Currier's kart appeared to lose momentum setting him back several spots. At the stripe, he would have to settle for fifth.

Sugar Hill Speedway and the Racing Against Cancer Team extends their sincere thanks to all who helped to make the evening a tremendous success. For more information about the "Team" visit the website at www.racingagainstcancer.com

Sunday, Sugar Hill hosted the fourth and final race of the Sugar Hill - Pomfret Challenge Series. Eighteen divisions and 120 racers competed for trophies and special awards with 15-lap heats and 25 lap features. A pot-luck barbecue and awards presentation closed out the day's festivities. Champions were crowned in sixteen divisions who competed in all four events. For a listing of all Class Champions, visit our website at www.sugarhillspeedway.com. The top five for the day's events are listed below.

Join us next Saturday for "Knoxland Farm Equpment Night" with raffles, drawings, and special attractions. For additional track information, call the SHS Hotline at (603)529-2479 or visit our website at www.sugarhillspeedway.com

Troystar and RAC™ Teams to help fight Cancer
at Stafford's Carquest 150

Long Island, NY (June 28, 2000)

Troystar Motorsports, and Stafford Late Model driver Troy Ferdinando will be joining forces with other Racing Against Cancer™ Teams and special guests to raise funds for cancer research this Friday at Stafford's Carquest 150. Ferdinando will be joined by fellow Racing Against Cancer™ driver Tom Fox (Stafford Modified) and defending Busch North Series Champion Brad Leighton. Also on hand to help the cause will be TNN broadcaster Bob Dillner, and 24 year-old Leukemia survivor Jaime Austin. The three Racing Against Cancer™ drivers will be signing autographs for fans and raffling tickets at the Racing Against Cancer™ display in the midway throughout the night.

Prizes during Racing Against Cancer's season long raffle include a full size American Race Truck eligible for competition in the Action American Truck Series and tickets to the 2001 Daytona 500. All proceeds from the Racing Against Cancer™ raffle go to the American Cancer Society. In 1999 Racing Against Cancer™ raised $41,700 dollars for the American Cancer Society.

"This is such a great cause," explains Ferdinando. "Getting together with guys like Tom Fox, Brad Leighton and Bob Dillner to bring the racing community together to help in the fight against cancer is such a great feeling. It's nice to know we can all make a difference."

Troy Ferdinando and the Long Island based Troystar Motorports Racing Against Cancer Team have competed in 4 races druing the 2000 season. Ferdinando, running Stafford's only "true" Ford racecar, had a season best finish of 15th just three weeks ago at Stafford.

TNN's Bob Dillner is taking off from his busy television schedule to help Troystar Motorsports and Racing Against Cancer™ this week at Stafford. Bob is a reporter for TNN's Sunday morning program, "Raceday" as well as the pit reporter for TNN's season long ASA Series coverage.

"Its great to get back home, especially to Stafford," comments Dillner. "I spent a lot of time as a kid growing up there on Friday nights and it's an awesome place to watch a race. Troy is one of the bright young stars of this sport and I think what he is doing for Racing Against Cancer to raise awareness is very important. Cancer is something that effects nearly every family in America. We need to do everything we can to help find a cure."

Bob's cousin and cancer survivor Jaime Austin will be helping sell raffle tickets at the Racing Against Cancer™ display. Austin was diagnosed with two rare forms of Leukemia at the age of 16. After a successful bone marrow transplant in 1993, Jaime has been in remission for over 6 years.

Racing Against Cancer™ is a non-profit organization dedicated to involving the racing community in the fight against cancer. To date, more than $64,000 has been donated to the American Cancer Society through their efforts. More information can be obtained by accessing their web site at www.racingagainstcancer.com or calling Scott Gregory at 860-399-7868. You can also learn more about Racing Against Cancer™ driver Troy Ferdinando and the Troystar Motorsports Team on the internet at: http://troystar.homepage.com.

Cub Scout pack 19 holds annual Pinewood Derby Race in Nashua

Nashua, NH (March 30, 2000)

Cub Scout Pack 19 of Nashua held its annual Pinewood Derby race on March 25 at the Pilgrim Congregational Church.

The day features a Dwarf Race Car driven by Jay Gignac of Nashua, which is sponsored by Power Mist race Fuels and affiliated with the Racing Against Cancer™ Team. Jay explained how the car works and let the boys take a close inspection. He provided the boys with pictures (which he autographed), magnets, banks,and stickers.

Another event held was the rocket car races, which the den leaders made out of pinewood derby kits. Then it was the boys' turn to race their derby cars to determine the top three finishers, which will go on to the Daniel Webster Council race May 6. The boys and their families were treated with hot dogs and refreshments.

The pack would like to thank the following sponsors fortheir donations: Staples, Xpress Lube, Big Party, Blushing Rose, Texaco, Building 19 and VIP Auto Center.

For more information on pack 19, call committee chairman Carl Bonenfant at 882-5559 or cubmaster Elmer Mclain 594-2484

Racing Against Cancer™ is the Primary Associate Sponsor Grizco Racing Inc. for 2000

Faifax, VT (March 2, 2000)

Grizco Racing together with the Racing Against Cancer™ Team have announced that the Chevrolet's driven by 1999 Champion Brad Leighton on the Busch North Series, NASCAR Touring Division will carry a primary associate sponsor throughout the 2000 season.

Owner Steve Griswold explained that the team has decided to donate the space to the Racing Against Cancer™ Team program in hopes that a Corporate sponsor will step up to the plate and buy the alotted space on the No. 55 machines. All proceeds emerging from the partnership will benefit the American Cancer Society. Should a sponsor not be obtained, the Racing Against Cancer™ Team logo will be displayed.

"This is a great opportunity for the Racing Against Cancer™ Team to raise some additional funds for the American Cancer™ Society," said Scott Gregory, Director of Operations of the Racing Against Cancer™ Team. "Grizco Racing became an active member in the fight against cancer last season when they entered into a similar arrangement that resulted in a donation exceeding $18,000. Steve and Peg Griswold together with their driver Brad and Lynn Leighton have been a tremendous boost to this program. We can't thank them enough."

Brad Leighton won the 1999 Busch North Series, NASCAR Touring Division Championship last year when he piloted his No. 55 Sheraton Harborside Portsmouth Chevrolet to an astounding six wins, 14 top-five, and 15 top-10 finishes. Leighton locked up the Championship one race before the conclusion of the season driving the Foxwoods Resort Casino Chevrolet to a win at New Hampshire International Speedway. Foxwoods Resort Casino matched every dollar earned by Leighton in that race and donated it to the American Cancer Society.

Racing Against Cancer™ is a non-profit organization dedicated to involving the racing community in the fight against cancer. Thusfar, more than $64,000 has been donated to the American Cancer Society through their efforts. More information can be obtained by either accessing their web site at www.racingagainstcancer.com.

Racing Against Cancer™ Team Plans Display For Racearama 2000

Westbrook, CT (February 20, 2000)

The Racing Against Cancer™ Team which now has over 65 active drivers is planning a large display at Racearama 2000. Scott Gregory of Westbrook, CT who drives the Foxwoods #94 in the Racing Against Cancer™ Truck Series has been hard at work organizing this years' display. Highlights of the weekends festivities include autograph sessions with Brad Leighton, the BUSCH North Series Champion, and Charlie Pasteryak, NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour driver. Brad's autograph session will take place on Saturday, March 4th beginning at 3 PM, while Charlie will be signing on Sunday, March 5th also starting at 3PM.

Race cars and trucks on display will include Scott Gregorys' impeccable #94 Race Truck, Eli Lussier's Tiger Sprint, Richie Dusstt's Jr. Go Kart, Sean Caisse's Mini Sprint, David Noury's MMRA Minicup, Jay Gignac's Dwarf car and Carl Pasteryak's NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour car. Additionally, a Mini Sprint from the East Coast Mini Sprint Association may be on hand to commemorate the joining of all the drivers in this organization with the Racing Against Cancer™ program in the year 2000. "We're very excited about being part of this program," said ECMSA President Jim Warner. "This organization has been making a difference in the fight against cancer and we're looking forward to being not just a part of it, but an active team player. The ECMSA, with membership spread over several states, has the ability to reach a wide range of people that will only benefit this new mission."

Some new faces are set to run under the Racing Against Cancer™ banner this year. Bobby Seymour of NEMA fame, Mick Smallridge, Super Eliminator IHRA, Frank LaChappelle, Mini stocks, Tom Fox's SK Modified and several new drivers in the Racing Against Cancer™ Truck Series. Other notable news is that Scott Gregory, the "driving force" behind the Racing Against Cancer™ Team, plans to compete in the Busch North Series event at the Waterford Speedbowl on August 5th, 2000.

This year's display will feature free give away items, autograph sessions and information on the Racing Against Cancer™ team's year 2000 raffle. This raffle raised over $20,000 for the American Cancer Society in 1999 and has been "Revved Up" for year 2000. The raffle is set to begin in April and this year's prizes are fantastic. First Prize will be a complete, race ready, American Race Truck. If you ever wanted to go racing this could be your ticket! Second prize will be a trip for two to the Daytona 500, in the year 2001. Airfare, 4 nights hotel, tickets to all races and more are included. Third Prize is a beautiful Grandfather Clock hand built and donated by Racing Against Cancer™ driver Frank LaChappell of the Waterford Speedbowl's #52 Mini Stock. Frank is waging a personal battle against cancer and the Racing Against Cancer™ Team wishes him all the best both on and off the race track.

The Racing Against Cancer™ Team hopes everyone will take the time to stop by the team display. The Racing Against Cancer™ Team uses motorsports to raise significant dollars to fight cancer. Since the Teams inception in 1997 over $64,000 has been raised for the American Cancer Society. For more information on the Racing Against Cancer™ Team visit our web site at www.racingagainstcancer.com. See you at Racearama 2000!

The Racing Against Cancer Team™ Raises Over $41,600.00
to Fight Cancer in 1999!

Westbrook, CT (January 2, 2000)

The Racing Against Cancer™ Team gathered at Foxwoods Resort Casino for their 3rd annual luncheon on Friday December 10, 1999. Nearly 100 team members, volunteers and sponsors were on hand to celebrate the teams' most successful and rewarding year to date. Since its' inception in 1997 the Racing Against Cancer™ Team has raised in excess of $64,000 for the American Cancer Society.

Bruce Marshall, Senior Vice President of Income Development for the New England Division of the American Cancer Society was on hand to accept a check in the amount of $41,651.78. These funds were the result of the cumulative efforts by many volunteers who gave their time to support the Racing Against Cancer™ cause.

Team Coordinator Jon Blanchette hosted the event and thanked all in attendance for their support. "The Racing Against Cancer™ program would not be such a success without all the fine people in this room" said Blanchette. Individual plaques were distributed to those whose efforts were particularly impressive in 1999. Among those honored, were NASCAR BUSCH North Series Champion Brad Leighton and the Grizco Racing team owners Steve and Peg Griswold. The Grizco Racing Team efforts alone raised over $18,700 by their winning the BUSCH North Series race at NHIS in September this year. Steve Fales of Power Mist Racing Fuels was thanked for all his support and effort. Additionally, Archie and Debbie Archambault and the Sugar Hill Speedway's Junior Ambassadors were commended for their fine work in fund raising and promotion of the Racing Against Cancer™ program.

Foxwoods Resort Casinos' Sr. Vice President of Marketing Mr. Robert DeSalvio, was also presented with a special award. The support that Foxwood's and their entire senior management staff have led to the success's achieved by the Racing Against Cancer™ Team. Acknowledged as the "Driving Force" behind the Racing Against Cancer™ Team Mr. Scott Gregory was praised for his efforts in 1999. Scott's race winnings and other fund raising efforts totaled over $20,000 for the American Cancer Society in 1999.

Mr. Terry Eames, general manager and promoter of the Waterford Speedbowl, was also acknowledged for his support of Racing Against Cancer™ Team program over the last three years.

The entire Racing Against Cancer™ team is preparing for the upcoming racing and fundraising season. The team is projecting even greater success, both on and off the track, in the year 2000. For more information on the Racing Against Cancer™ Team or its fund raising efforts visit our website at www.racingagainstcancer.com.

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