November 4, 2012
By Kim Roberson
Kim Roberson
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As we begin the final two weeks of the 2012 NASCAR season, drivers and fans alike are focusing not only at what is happening on the track, but off the track as well.
A lot has happened in the week since we left Martinsville.
Hurricane/Super Storm Sandy tracked up the east coast, making landfall on the Delmarva Peninsula and creating massive devastation from Virginia to Connecticut. Even I, who grew up on the Atlantic coast of Florida and was lucky enough in all of those years (dealing with a dozen or so hurricanes, including Andrew), had never had to deal with hurricane damage -- until this week. But the blue tarp on my roof covering missing shingles is nothing compared to what has happened on the New Jersey and New York coastlines.
So, what does this have to do with NASCAR?
Other than the countless fans who were affected by the storm, including some who lost everything to Sandy’s winds and rain, several people connected to NASCAR had loved ones in the storm’s direct path.
One of the first pictures of the flooding in New York City that I saw was tweeted out by Ingrid Vandebosch, wife of Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 AARP Fight to End Hunger Chevrolet. The Gordons have an apartment in the Big Apple as well as a home in North Carolina, and while Jeff, Ingrid, Ella and Sam were safe in the Carolinas, a friend sent them a picture of what was going on in the streets below their apartment windows. “Outside a friend's window down by the Hudson river!” was the caption, and the photo showed water covering the street and sidewalk below. Another tweet stated “My thoughts go out to all the people affected by this storm. Please stay safe tonight!”
Driver Martin Truex, Jr., who wheels the No. 56 NAPA Toyota, was born and raised in New Jersey, and his family still lives there. When asked about how they did in the storm, Truex replied “It's definitely been a tough few days for all the folks in that area. Fortunately my family, everybody is safe, everybody is doing well, still without power, and obviously I think they're all huddled up over at my sister's house right now playing some word games by candlelight. But everybody is doing good, and we're thankful for that.”
Truex is just one of several drivers looking to help raise money for those hard hit by Sandy. “We're putting together efforts today to try to help with some relief, and folks can go to our website at Martintruexjrfoundation.org, and there's a "donate now" button on there where they can donate to help some relief efforts. We're very proud to be able to do that, and hopefully the NASCAR fans always step up and help when there's people in need, and I'm sure this time it will be no different. I want to thank all the folks for that and hopefully we can do our part just to try to get things back to normal.”
Gordon’s teammate Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, is working with his team owner and sponsor to do their part to help. “Myself, Hendrick Motorsports, and Lowe’s are proud and happy and more than willing to donate money to the Disaster Relief Fund. It’s something that Lowe’s is very passionate about; and Hendrick Motorsport and I certainly want to join in support and help spread the word and hopefully influence others to donate.
In the Manhattan area in the building that (wife) Chani and I have an apartment in, has been flooded, and it’s still evacuated. Nobody can go in the building and the bottom two floors are underground and have been flooded and the main lobby had some major damage too. So it’s impacted us in a small way; to many others, in a much greater capacity. But it’s just a wild, wild deal up there.
"And to talk to our friends about the experiences they’ve had; and to know how many people in Manhattan and all the surrounding area that are dealing with all the water issues, It’s a sad thing. Hopefully what we’re doing will help influence others to donate and try to help our friends up there.”
The mother and sister of Mike Calinoff, spotter for Matt Kenseth’s No. 17 Ford, were both on Long Island when the storm hit, and didn’t have power restored until Friday. Stephanie Calinoff, who is a realtor on Long Island as well as a jewelry designer, sent out text messages when she could get a signal, saying they were bundled up in sweats and under multiple blankets in an effort to keep warm until they could get their electricity restored.
Many other members of the NASCAR community have loved ones working to pick up the pieces, trying to salvage what they can and begin the long process of rebuilding.
If you have an opportunity to donate, please do. The American Red Cross not only needs money to buy supplies to assist those facing this long road of recovery, they also need blood donations. If you don’t have money to donate, but are healthy, consider going to spend half an hour to give the gift of life to someone who was injured in the storm. According to their web site “Tuesday night, more than 9,000 people stayed in 171 Red Cross shelters across 13 states. More than 100,800 meals and snacks have been served.” You can donate by visiting the American Red Cross.
Everyone be safe, and have a wonderful week.
Follow Kim on Twitter: @ksrgatorfn
The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.
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