California natives Jack Beckman, Ron Capps and Leah Pritchett have assembled items to be auctioned off via Don Schumacher Racing’s eBay page to benefit those affected by November’s California wildfires,
“My 95-year-old grandma is one of the evacuees, so it does hit very close to home,” said Beckman, driver of the Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, a lifelong California resident currently residing in Norco, Calif. “To have so many people who have lost everything, I can’t even put myself in their position, and then, of course, the tens of thousands of people that were displaced by this, it’s just unimaginable. We’ll never be able to make people whole again, but anything we can do to help ease the situation in any way, we’re willing to do.”
“As someone that has seen wildfires first-hand, I can't even imagine what our fellow Californians are going through after the destruction of the latest fires,” said NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat driver Capps, also a lifelong California resident, who lives in Carlsbad, Calif. “Seeing and hearing about the devastation and the loss that some of those residents have gone through, with some of them losing everything they worked for their whole lives, it makes your heart hurt. I am grateful to be able to have the chance for us to help in any way we can. Please put it in your heart to bid on these great items we’re putting up to help these communities recover from the wildfires."
All proceeds from the auction will benefit Direct Relief, a humanitarian aid organization whose mission is to improve the lives and health of people affected by poverty, or emergencies such as the Camp and Woolsey Fires that consumed large portions of Northern and Southern California last month. The auction will go live at 6 p.m. EST Dec. 11, and will close at 6 p.m. EST on Dec.18, ensuring the winning bidders will receive their items in time for the Christmas holiday.
Up for auction are autographed crew shirts from all 11 of Pritchett’s 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series entries. Beckman has crafted a 2019 Jack Beckman VIP race experience package, while Capps hopes to raise funds for the affected communities by donating NAPA Racing crew shirts from his four 2018 liveries.
Pritchett, who was born and raised in Redlands, Calif., and today drives the MOPAR/Pennzoil Top Fuel dragster, said, “When we first decided to help those devastated by the fires, we initially were going to donate clothes. We all have so many branded items in new or like-new condition that we thought would be of use to those who have lost everything. I asked my Instagram followers for help in recommending which charity we should donate to, and the response was overwhelming and informative – so many of those commenting let us know that there are so many clothing donations already and it would seem that those suffering would be best served by monetary assistance, which led us to do an auction instead.
“We know these items that we’re auctioning off have value to someone, somewhere. I wore 11 different crew shirts last year, and I’m glad my team’s ever-diverse rainbow of crew shirts will be used to help those afflicted. During this time of giving, I hope this opportunity makes its way to some enthusiastic fan looking to make a difference, at any level.”
Beckman, Capps, and Pritchett urge race fans from around the country to visit the DSR eBay page and rally among those struggling with the aftermath of the fires.
Source: NHRA | December 11, 2018