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The NASCAR Foundation and its track partners delivered more than 1,000 Speedy Bears on National Teddy Bear Day to nearly 40 hospitals across the U.S. in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee and Virginia.
NASCAR Drivers also participated in the initiative by recording a special video message for kids who received the bears, including: NASCAR Cup Series drivers Austin Dillon, John Hunter Nemechek and Tyler Reddick; NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers Justin Allgaier, Ross Chastain, Austin Cindric, Noah Gragson and Ryan Vargas; NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series drivers Cassie Gannis, Jennifer Jo Cobb and Natalie Decker; and, Rev Racing driver Isabella Robusto.
NASCAR drivers from all series are joining the @NASCAR_FDN’s #SpeedyBearBrigade today to celebrate National Teddy Bear Day! Join these drivers and bring comfort to pediatric patients in the hospital in need of a Speedy Bear hug. Learn more: https://t.co/MtXlVTTDmT pic.twitter.com/dZ1vRxvCjM
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 9, 2020
“This is our fourth year partnering with hospitals across the country to bring some comfort and joy to their pediatric patients,” stated Nichole Krieger, Executive Director of The NASCAR Foundation. “This program is so uplifting, but especially this year, we hope the bears will bring big smiles during what can be a very stressful and emotional time.”
Since the Speedy Bear Brigade began in 2017, the nationwide program has delivered nearly 4,000 teddy bears to sick children at more than 80 hospitals.
Participating locations in the 2020 Speedy Bear Brigade include:
| State | Affiliation | Hospital Location |
| Alabama | Talladega Superspeedway | Children’s of AL |
| Arizona | Phoenix Raceway | Phoenix Children’s Hospital |
| California | NASCAR LA Office | Children’s Hospital of Orange County |
| California | Auto Club Speedway | Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital |
| Florida | Sebring International Raceway | Advent Health |
| Florida | Homestead-Miami Speedway | Homestead Hospital |
| Florida | NASCAR Daytona Office | Halifax Health – Speediatrics Inpatient Unit |
| Florida | NASCAR Daytona Office | Keech Neighborhood Clinic |
| Florida | NASCAR Daytona Office | Halifax Health – Pediatric Care Deltona |
| Florida | NASCAR Daytona Office | Halifax Health – Child & Adolescent Behavioral Services |
| Georgia | Road Atlanta | Northeast GA Medical Center |
| Georgia | Seacrest Studios | Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta |
| Illnois | Chicagoland Speedway | Silver Cross |
| Indiana | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Riley Hospital for Children |
| Iowa | Adams County Speedway | CHI Heath Mercy |
| Michigan | Michigan International Speedway | Henry Ford Allegiance Health Hospital |
| Nevada | Speedway Children’s Charities – Las Vegas Motor Speedway | UMC Children’s Hospital |
| Nevada | Speedway Children’s Charities – Las Vegas Motor Speedway | Sunrise Children’s Hospital |
| Nevada | Speedway Children’s Charities – Las Vegas Motor Speedway | Summerlin Children’s Hospital |
| New York | Watkins Glen International | Golisano’s Children’s Hospital in Rochester |
| New York | Watkins Glen International | Upstate Golisano’s Children’s Hospital in Syracuse |
| New York | NASCAR New York Offices | Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone |
| North Carolina | NASCAR Charlotte Area Offices | Atrium Health Levine Children’s |
| North Carolina | NASCAR Charlotte Area Offices | Atrium Health Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital |
| North Carolina | NASCAR Charlotte Area Offices | Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital / Huntersville Pediatric ED |
| North Carolina | Martinsville Speedway | Brenner Children’s Hospital (Winston-Salem) |
| Ohio | Toledo Speedway/ARCA | Toldeo Mercy Children’s Hospital |
| Ohio | Speedway Children’s Charities – Kentucky Speedway | Nationwide Children’s Hospital |
| Ohio | Speedway Children’s Charities – Kentucky Speedway | Cincinatti Children’s Hospital |
| Oklahoma | Salina Highbanks Speedway | The Childrens hospital at St. Francis |
| Pennsylvania | Pocono Raceway | Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital |
| South Carolina | Darlington Raceway | Tidelands Health |
| Tennessee | Bristol Motor Speedway | Niswonger Children’s Hospital |
| Tennessee | Seacrest Studios | Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt |
| Texas | Speedway Children’s Charities – Texas Motor Speedway | Cook Children’s Hospital |
| Texas | Speedway Children’s Charities – Texas Motor Speedway | Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children |
| Virginia | Richmond Raceway | Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU |
Click below to view photos from The NASCAR Foundation’s Speedy Bear Brigade:
Speedy Bear Travels Coast-to-Coast on National Teddy Bear Day
