NASCAR’s Mike Helton Donates Personal Car To Benefit UNLV Emergency Room Residents Foundation
Barrett-Jackson, in conjunction with The NASCAR Foundation, today announced the charity sale of a 2016 Jeep Wrangler Red Rock Edition at Barrett-Jackson’s 10th Annual Las Vegas Auction, Oct. 19-21, 2017, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. The vehicle, donated from the personal collection of Mike Helton – NASCAR vice chairman and chairman of The NASCAR Foundation – will benefit The NASCAR Foundation, with 100 percent of the money earmarked to support the UNLV Emergency Room Residents Foundation.
“Like Barrett-Jackson, our friends at NASCAR have strong ties to Las Vegas and were deeply saddened by the recent tragic event,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “We’re so proud this longtime partner of ours is stepping up to help the medical personnel who are fighting daily to save the lives of those injured. It is just one of many initiatives to help to show our support for Las Vegas at this difficult time.”
The 2016 Jeep Wrangler Red Rock Edition (Lot #3000) is one of less than 50 production vehicles built by Jeep, and was inspired by Moab and the celebration of the 50th Annual Easter Safari gathering of Jeep enthusiasts from all over the world. The vehicle was carefully delivered to Petty’s Garage and the engine was treated to a supercharger performance upgrade to enhance the power, under the supervision of seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty himself. When complete, “The King” put his famous artistic signature on the passenger side portion of the dash.
“It’s an honor to donate this vehicle to benefit the UNLV Emergency Room Residents Foundation,” Helton said. ”We were reminded of the importance of emergency room personnel two weeks ago in Las Vegas. The work that was done under the most trying of circumstances was admirable – and invaluable. This is a cause I am proud to support and I urge others to do so.”
Mike Helton and NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace will be onstage as the rare Jeep crosses the block on Thursday, Oct. 19, at approximately 3:30 p.m. and 100 percent of the hammer price will benefit The NASCAR Foundation, who have chosen to earmark the money for the UNLV Emergency Room Residents Foundation. The foundation provides support for the UNLV Medical School’s ER Residents and encourages them to stay in Nevada. Prior to last year, residents typically moved out of state to practice medicine after completing a residency at UMC, Nevada’s only Level 1 Trauma Center. UMC played a critical role in the initial response to the tragic shooting in Las Vegas and continues to be an important site for the treatment of victims, many who are facing a lifelong battle to recover.
“We are proud to be a part of an incredible culture where many of our partners have stepped up over the years to donate spectacular charity vehicles, and this Jeep is another great example,” said Steve Davis, Barrett-Jackson president. “We are honored to provide the platform for moments such as this, which are all about us joining together as a community to support Las Vegas and the many families that need our help after such a tragic event.”
