NASCAR is in Watkins Glen this weekend and as the drivers of the Cup Series make the left and right turns, one driver is racing for a noble cause and is doing all he can to make a difference.
Corey LaJoie, driver for the #32 Go Fas Racing Ford, is racing for one of the more underfunded teams in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Trying to compete for a fraction of the money as the top teams spend, LaJoie and his team look for sponsorship wherever they can. This weekend, LaJoie talked to his team and helped contribute the cost to get his favorite charity on his race car.
Samaritan’s Feet is a nonprofit faith based charity that gives shoes to impoverished children in the United States and in other countries. Having a pair of shoes is important, especially in third world countries, to prevent contracting illness by walking barefoot in unsanitary conditions. That was the basis for the driver nicknamed “Supershoe” to try and help however he can.
LaJoie is donating one month of his salary to put Samaritan’s Feet on his car. The idea was his after realizing that his car would be unsponsored for this weekend’s race at The Glen. LaJoie told The Athletic that he called owner Archie St. Hilaire and asked him that if LaJoie would give up a month of his salary if St. Hilaire would cover the rest of the cost. St. Hilaire agreed and Samaritan’s Feet is on the car.
.@CoreyLaJoie is headed to Watkins Glen with a special cause on-board his No. 32 Ford Mustang that has reached major strides in an effort to reduce that heart-tugging statistic. Check it all out here: https://t.co/rQGrRnDS6P pic.twitter.com/3EQNRBTUW6
— Samaritan’s Feet (@Samaritans_Feet) July 31, 2019
LaJoie has already done a lot this weekend but that’s not enough. LaJoie has a link on his Twitter page and is raising money this weekend. Nearing his goal of $100k, LaJoie is raising the stakes by signing the names of everyone who donates on his car for Sunday’s race. As of 24 hours before the green flag, LaJoie and his wife Kelly have raised almost $90k and will have over 1,100 names (and counting) on his car.
All hands on deck to write 934 (and counting) names on the @Samaritans_Feet ride. There’s still room for more and there’s millions of kids that could use a blessing. Don’t miss out. pic.twitter.com/7pdtllhPAv
— Corey LaJoie (@CoreyLaJoie) August 3, 2019
There’s still time to donate and according to LaJoie, there’s no minimum donation to put your name on his car. LaJoie admits that he’s probably one of the lowest paid drivers on the grid and what he’s giving up “probably covers a tire bill” in terms of the overall cost to put the car on the track this weekend but he’s giving what he can and is doing what he can to help others in worse situations and is hoping that many others can do the same with as much as they’re comfortable to give.
