For the fourth straight year, FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), Autism Speaks and Dover International Speedway (NYSE: DVD) have joined forces, as FedEx will return as the title sponsor of the “FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, June 1, 2014.
The announcement of the renewed sponsorship is coupled with the news that for the third straight year, the Autism Speaks Day at the Races event will be part of the June 1 race. This unique event provides those on the autism spectrum, and their families, with the opportunity to attend a NASCAR race in a comfortable environment. The special ticket package provides seating in a sensory friendly area within the air-conditioned grandstands at the Monster Mile, which offers great views of the race along the backstretch of the track; pre-race appearances by NASCAR drivers and personalities; brief presentations by educational speakers in the morning; food and drink; and much more.
The dedicated area provides a quiet zone, with muted lighting in a calmer environment for parents to help their children escape the crowd if necessary. The room features comfortable seating, games, and video screens to help fans keep up with the action on the track or watch family friendly movies.
Tickets for the Autism Speaks Day at the Races cost $88 for adults and $20 for children ages 14 and younger. The $88 price point is symbolic – an estimated one in 88 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum, a 78 percent increase in six years that is only partly explained by improved diagnosis. A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit Autism Speaks.
At the Jan. 31, 2014 NASCAR Marketing and Communications Summit in Charlotte, N.C., the program was named Best Overall PR Campaign of 2013.
To purchase tickets to Autism Speaks Day at the Races, call 800-441-RACE or visit DoverSpeedway.com.
This marks the eighth straight year the Monster Mile is partnering with Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, to help raise funds and awareness for the cause throughout the weekend.
With its return as title sponsor of the “FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks,” FedEx continues to maintain a strong presence in NASCAR, most notably as the primary sponsor on Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, a relationship that dates back to the beginning of the 2005 season. In previous years, Hamlin has run a specialized Autism Speaks/FedEx paint scheme for the Dover spring events.
Another returning element to help raise awareness for the cause is the program that will see drivers in all three national touring series display Autism Speaks decals on their cars throughout the weekend. In 2013, 66 drivers participated.
Dover Motorsports PR
