The Autism Speaks puzzle piece trackside at the Dover 400
Kyle Busch captured Sunday's Autism Speaks 400 presented by Hershey's Milk and Milkshakes at Dover (Del.) International Speedway. Busch swapped the lead with last year's winner, Jimmie Johnson, throughout most of the 400-mile race. He sealed the victory when Johnson was called for a pit penalty late in the race.
In pre-race ceremonies, Autism Speaks President, Mark Roithmayr, briefly addressed the NASCAR crowd commenting on the unique opportunity to build awareness in front of such a large and passionate audience. Executives from HP Hood, licensees of Hershey's Milk and Milkshakes, also presented a check for $19,800 to Autism Speaks prior to the race in honor of 200 laps completed by the #99 car driven by Trevor Bayne in Saturday's Nationwide Series race. Richard Petty said the famous words “Gentlemen Start Your Engines” wearing the Autism Speaks pin. Outside the stands, members of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority manned four kiosks selling Autism Speaks merchandise, collecting donations and handing out information cards with autism facts.
Millions of fans tuned in to the race on FOX Sports which featured several vignettes about autism. They also saw the Autism Speaks blue puzzle-piece logo highlighted on 27 cars and around the track throughout the race.
Read daily blog posts from Kerry Magro, an adult with autism, who is a junior at Seton Hall University, majoring in Sports Management.
