For 31 years, the Stocks for Tots event held by the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame has brought together an assortment of elite Motorsports personalities in an effort to raise money and gather donations of toys for local children in need.
Conceptualized and founded in 1989 by former president of Penske Racing South Don Miller and friend Bob Ebert, the all-volunteer organization has raised over $1 million and distributed thousands of toys to make Christmas special for abused children who otherwise may be left empty-handed.
This year, however, due to COVID-19 restrictions and the organization’s desire to keep everyone safe, the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame has made the difficult decision to cancel both Stocks for Tots and the 2020 induction of NHRA’s Greg Anderson and NASCAR’s Bobby Labonte into the NC Auto Racing Walk of Fame. Both inductees will be honored at the 2021 ceremony, scheduled to take place next October.
“This is a very serious situation, and we’re trying to react in a realistic way,” said Miller, now Chairman of the Board of the NC Auto Racing Hall of Fame, via a video message to the community posted on social media. “This is not something we wanted to do, but you have to face situations like this.”
Miller went on to express disappointment at having to cancel the Stocks for Tots event, typically held in December at the NASCAR Technical Institute, and said that although the group cannot host an event for the public, they are still working to make Christmas special for children in the region.
Monetary donations can be mailed:
North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame
119 Knob Hill Road
Mooresville, NC 28117
New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off beginning December 1 to either the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame (at the address above Monday through Friday, 10am to 5pm and Saturday, 10am to 3pm) or the NASCAR Technical Institute:
220 Byers Creek Road
Mooresville, NC 28117
Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm
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