Nominated for 2023 Kickin’ Doorz Down Philanthropist of the Year Award presented by 51FIFTY
BAKERSFIELD, Calif., May 23, 2023 – Kurt Busch has accomplished much in his racing career, including a NASCAR Cup Series championship and recognition as one of the organization’s 75 Greatest Drivers. Winning, however, isn’t the Las Vegas native’s only achievement.
Throughout his on-track career, Busch has been able to share his successes in various communities through the Kurt Busch Foundation.
In 2022, the Foundation –with the assistance of 41 NASCAR Cup Series drivers, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and 23XI – raised more than $100,000 for the second consecutive year through its Window of Hope program.
The funds directly benefit the Charlotte, N.C. community through Atrium Health Cancer Institute’s Project PINK, which was established to increase access to life-saving mammography screenings for uninsured women in the local area.
Earlier this year, the National Motorsports Association (NMPA) recognized the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion as its 2022 Pocono Spirit Award. Busch twice was the NMPA’s quarterly winner – for his work with Window of Hope; and the nonprofit Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix), through which he donates tickets allowing veterans to attend NASCAR races.
The Busch Foundation – Vet Tix partnership began in 2019.
The Kurt Busch Foundation is among five nominees for the 2023 Kickin’ Doorz Down Philanthropist of the Year presented by 51FIFTY. The Kevin Harvick Foundation; The Jimmie Johnson Foundation; Tony LaRussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation; and the Steve Mariucci Family Foundation also have been chosen as this year’s finalists.
The Award’s winner will be announced June 8, 2023 during the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame’s induction gala, presented by World Wide Technology Raceway. The Thursday night event will be held at Sonoma Raceway’s Turn 11 Club, as part of the track’s NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and NASCAR/ARCA Menards Series weekend.
Previous Award winners are Mike Curb (2021) and the Sonoma Raceway Speedway Children’s Charities Chapter (2022).
“Kurt’s charitable initiatives have made communities better,” said Ken Clapp, Chairman and CEO of the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame. “His recognition of our military veterans is especially important, given that so many of our post-World War II competitors served in the armed forces.
“As a veteran, and speaking for other members of the board who also served, we are pleased to nominate Kurt’s foundation for this important honor.”
The Knockin’ Doorz Down Philanthropist of The Year award was brought to life by Carlos Vieira, a business man, an entrepreneur, a retired racecar driver, a father and a philanthropist. Carlos Vieira has spent years of his life living the madness, in which he has overcome obstacles and adversities throughout the years to become the success he is today.
And with that success he has been given opportunities to help others along the way. He founded the Carlos Vieira Foundation in 2010 and began the great works of helping families living with autism, mental illness and drug addiction, through programs such as Race For Autism, Race 2B Drug Free and the Race To End The Stigma campaigns.
Vieira captured all of this in his book Knockin’ Doorz Down, released in 2020, the real life story of breaking through the darkness of addiction and finding redemption. He continues to live this life of philanthropy and is actively encouraging others to follow suite. This award is a representation of that mindset. To put others first, to lift others up and to always do what we can to help when help is needed.
“Wealth isn’t just about dollars. We all have time, talent, and creativity, all of which can be used for positive change. Share your blessings in whatever form they come and to whatever level you have been blessed,” Vieira said.
About the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame:
The West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame was conceived in 2001 as a means of recognizing significant contributors and contributions to the sport of stock car/motorsports competition. The mission of the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame is founded to preserve history and heritage of the important role west coast stock car and motorsports figures have played in the sport’s development and continuation and to recognize, through annual enshrinement, of outstanding individuals and groups within the sport such as, but not limited to, designers, engineers, mechanics, drivers, race track owners, promoters, publicists and members of the motorsports media.
The Hall is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, dedicated to supporting a variety of organizations and groups from coast to coast. During its tenure, the Hall has raised more than $700,000 in the past five of its 22 years for youth, health and safety, hospitals, animal rescue, military and other charitable causes.
For more information on the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame visit: www.WestCoastStockCarHallofFame.com
Media Contact:
Owen A. Kearns
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About 51FIFTY
51FIFTY is power! Power to overcome, power to persevere, the power to set your life on the course of success. When you’re faced with the challenge’s life throws at you, you focus and do what is needed to go beyond what is required. Stand up, stand firm, believe, make it happen and live through the madness, knockin’ doors down along the way!
51FIFTY represents the lifestyle we choose to live, to have confidence in ourselves, to not let anyone or anything stop us, to overcome all adversity. We choose to be who we’re meant to be. We help others with empathy, compassion and honor. We see a world that is destined for greatness when we lift each other up rather than tearing each other down.
We choose to help, focus on community and inspire those around us. We are 51FIFTY!
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