Catchfence

“68-year-old Benny Chastain following his dream toward 2011 Daytona 500 in AARP-sponsored race car”

WASHINGTON ARCA driver Benny Chastain is preparing for his second outing with the number 75 AARP car in the Ansell Protective Gloves 150 at Chicagoland Speedway on August 27. AARP has joined with Bob Schacht Motorsports (BSM) to help Chastain follow his dream to drive in the Daytona 500. The organization for Americans 50-plus is sponsoring Chastain in four ARCA races this year and will support the 68-year-old driver in his effort to qualify for “The Great American Race” next February.

“I’m thrilled that AARP stepped up to help me chase my dream of running at Daytona,” Chastain said. “Racing against the best takes a lot of support and strong partners. AARP has given me the opportunity I needed to make it a reality.”

“Like a lot of AARP members, Benny isn’t ready to slow down,” said AARP Executive Vice President Emilio Pardo. “We like to ask our members what they want to be when they grow up. When we asked Benny, he dreamed big, so we got on board to help.”

Chastain made his first ARCA start in 2004 after graduating from two stock car driving schools and later came to AARP with his dream of driving in the Daytona 500. The four-race deal with AARP member and BSM owner Bob Schacht builds on AARP’s effort to help people 50 and older achieve what they want to do “when they grow up.” The AARP car marks AARP’s first time as a stock car sponsor.

Chastain will also run the AARP car at Kansas Speedway on September 30 and Rockingham Speedway on October 9. AARP members and all race fans can track Chastain’s progress by following @AARP on Twitter (www.twitter.com/AARP) or “liking” AARP’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AARP) where AARP be sharing details from the pit crew and real-time race updates.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world’s largest-circulation magazine with over 35.1 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP’s millions of members and Americans 50+; AARP VIVA su Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org.

AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

- Bob Schacht Motorsports Press Release