Catchfence

CONCORD, N.C. (April 29, 2011) – The 31st annual AutoTrader.com Speedway Children’s Charities Gala presented by Bank of America on Wednesday, May 25, will honor O. Bruton Smith, founder of Speedway Children’s Charities and chairman of the board for Speedway Motorsports Inc.

The Gala, which serves as the official kick-off for Coca-Cola 600 Race Week festivities at Charlotte Motor Speedway, will be held at The Ritz Carlton in uptown Charlotte, N.C.

All proceeds from the evening will benefit the grant program of the Charlotte Motor Speedway Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities and will be awarded to local non-profit organizations that help children with medical, social, financial and educational needs.

Gala festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception. The reception will include a silent auction, a photo booth by ShutterBooth and live music from the Rowan Big Band All-Stars, an 18-piece band featuring the style of Glenn Miller.

Following the formal portion of the program there will be a live auction with auctioneer Ernest Perry, owner and president of Perry’s Jewelers in Charlotte.

Items up for bid in the live auction include a MontBlanc watch, a trip to the Teen Choice Awards in Los Angeles and a trip to Las Vegas for the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series awards ceremony. The silent auction will feature more than 50 items, including jewelry, dinner parties, race packages and autographed memorabilia.

Mike Joy, the principal race announcer for NASCAR on FOX, will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the program. Carl Edwards, Speedway Children’s Charities national spokesperson, and Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, will be among the speakers at the Gala.

AutoTrader.com is returning as the title sponsor of this year’s Gala, marking its fourth year of sponsorship. Since its initial contribution, AutoTrader.com has donated more than $2 million to the Charlotte Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities.

The event represents one of the biggest fundraising nights of the year for the Charlotte area and since its inception the Gala has raised millions of dollars to improve the quality of life for children in the region.

For more information on the 31st Annual AutoTrader.com Speedway Children’s Charities Gala presented by Bank of America and other upcoming events contact Emily Hudgens at (704) 455-4426 or visit www.charlotte.speedwaycharities.org.

About Speedway Children’s Charities The mission of Speedway Children’s Charities remains true to the ideals it was founded upon in 1982: To care for children in educational, financial, social and medical need in order to help them lead productive lives. SCC provides funding for hundreds of non-profit organizations throughout the nation that meet the direct needs of children. Our vision is that every child has the same opportunities no matter what obstacle they are facing.

- Charlotte Motor Speedway, Press Release