Catchfence

“Team Reflects on Arthritis Foundation Collaboration, Opportunities for 2012″

Glenville, PA (October 25, 2011) – Todd Peck will get behind the wheel of the No. 96 Arthritis Foundation/Kids Get Arthritis Too NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Chevrolet for what plans to be the final time this season at the .526-mile Martinsville (Va.) Speedway during Saturday’s Kroger 200. While it will be Peck’s first time competing in the NCWTS at the paper-clip shaped oval, he is not a rookie to the track. He most recently competed at Martinsville in the NASCAR K&N Series. Prior to that, he raced at the track in the Allison Legacy Series.

Peck Motorsports kicked off its season in Washington D.C., attending the 2011 Juvenile Arthritis Conference where they announced a collaboration with the Arthritis Foundation to promote “Kids Get Arthritis Too” and draw attention to juvenile arthritis – a condition that Peck himself had. Since then, Peck and the No. 96 NCWTS team have been a voice for nearly 300,000 kids across the country affected by juvenile arthritis.

Last weekend, Peck was invited to speak at the Arthritis Foundation’s Mid-Atlantic Region Board of Directors Meeting that was held at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C. The private event allowed Peck to showcase the “Kids Get Arthritis Too” truck outside of the Hall of Fame as well as speak to the members and donors of the Foundation.

Martinsville will be the team’s fifth and final planned event of its debut season. The team is still seeking sponsorship in hopes to compete full-time for the 2012 NCWTS season as well as continue its collaboration with the Arthritis Foundation.

Comments from Todd Peck, driver of the No. 96 Arthritis Foundation / Kids Get Arthritis Too Chevrolet:

“I can’t wait to race at Martinsville. I’ve raced there before so I know what to expect and we should be able to have a good setup on the truck right off the bat. Obviously, it will be different racing the truck there, but this is my fifth race so there should be no surprises. I think we’ve learned a ton in the past four and we’re more prepared than ever.

“We’re really looking forward to Martinsville, too, because we’re hosting many members of the Arthritis Foundation from the Mid-Atlantic Region. We’ll be hosting staff, volunteers, kids and friends on Saturday. We couldn’t be happier with all of the support that the Arthritis Foundation has given us and this will be a great way to celebrate the end of the year.

“I think the biggest thing we’re proud of as a team has been hosting children with juvenile arthritis and their families at the track throughout the summer. Seeing their excitement and smiles firsthand is priceless and our team was honored to be able to provide them with an experience that they will hopefully never forget. That has really helped our team grow and remind us what’s important. We look at this platform as a great way for any sponsor to come on board and help us make a difference. We know that it’s making a difference and we want to share that with a great partner.

“We are definitely sad that our season is coming to an end, but I think we’ve learned and become a better team. I, and everyone involved with the team, are looking to grow and do that with the Arthritis Foundation as our continued supporters. We are hoping to be back next season with a full schedule, but a lot of that depends on sponsorship dollars. Everyone is going to try really hard during the off-season to make this program better.”

About Peck Motorsports

Peck Motorsports is the only professional NASCAR race team headquartered in central Pennsylvania. Founded in 1988, Peck Motorsports is a family operation. Brothers Dr. Mike Peck and Tom Peck operated the team with success throughout the 90s. Today the team is still led by Dr. Mike Peck, but this time with son Todd Peck behind the wheel.

The family has a long, trusted history in the sport. Tom Peck has numerous top-10 and top-five finishes in the highest ranks of NASCAR. Todd Peck is the next generation of Peck Motorsports hoping to carry on the legacy of proud Pennsylvania racers. The team is currently looking for primary sponsorship in 2012 to support their collaboration with the Arthritis Foundation.

About the Arthritis Foundation

Striking one in every five adults and 300,000 children, arthritis is the nation’s leading cause of disability. The Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org) is committed to raising awareness and reducing the impact of this serious, painful and unacceptable disease, which can severely damage joints and rob people of living life to its fullest. The Foundation funds life-changing research that has restored mobility in patients for more than six decades; fights for health care policies that improve the lives of the millions who live with arthritis; and partners with families to provide empowering programs and information.

Juvenile Arthritis (JA) affects more than 300,000 children in the U.S. JA is a term to describe the many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions that can develop in children ages 16 and younger. There are several different types of JA.

- Breaking Limits Press Release