Auction to benefit LV children’s charities

Friday, Dec. 21, 2001 | 10:02 a.m.

The Las Vegas chapter of Speedway Children's Charities will present its third-annual NASCAR Driver Auction on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2002.

It will be held at Sam's Town hotel-casino at 6 p.m. Doors will open at 5 p.m.

Last year, more than 25 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series drivers participated and helped raise $33,000 for local children's causes.

Fans are invited to bid on a chance to ride with their favorite Winston Cup driver in a convertible during driver introductions for the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 on Sunday, March 3.

Winning bidders on Busch Series competitors will meet their drivers before the start of the Sam's Town 300 on Saturday, March 2.

The evening's activities also will include a silent auction for NASCAR collectibles donated by race teams and sponsors.

The auction will kick off the charity's 2002 fund-raising campaign. Speedway Children's Charities grants funds to organizations which directly impact the health and welfare of Las Vegas-area children.

At the 2001 Christmas Tree Lighting and Grant Distribution Ceremony, held Dec. 12 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, $196,500 was donated to 17 local groups.

Tickets for the 2002 auction went on sale Dec. 15, and are available by calling Sam's Town's box office at (888) 464-2468, or online at Tickets.com.

Speedway Children's Charities is a non-profit foundation based in Charlotte, N.C. It distributes funds to charities and foundations providing medical, emotional and social services to children in need.