MTJ Foundation event to benefit area cancer patients

Driver Ross Chastain will race the No. 1 AdventHealth car in the season-opening DAYTONA 500, five other races in 2022.

DAYTONA BEACH — AdventHealth and Trackhouse Entertainment Group are joining forces in 2022 to field the No. 1 AdventHealth Chevrolet Camaro for driver Ross Chastain in six NASCAR Cup Series races including the season-opening DAYTONA 500 – the sport’s premier event.

The blue and green AdventHealth paint scheme will appear on Chastain’s No. 1 at the DAYTONA 500 on Feb. 20, Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway on March 20, Bristol Motor Speedway on April 17, Kansas Motor Speedway on May 15, Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 29 and Road America on July 3.

The announcement came in Daytona Beach as the Cup Series drivers prepared to test the sport’s new Next Gen cars at Daytona International Speedway on Tuesday and Wednesday. The tests are in preparation for the season-opening DAYTONA 500. 

With 50 hospitals in almost a dozen states, racetracks like Daytona, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway are all located within an AdventHealth market and nearby facility.

“As a Florida native, I couldn’t be happier to have AdventHealth join us at Trackhouse,” said Chastain, who drove for the health care provider when he raced for Spire Motorsports as well as Chip Ganassi Racing.

In addition to the race team sponsorship, AdventHealth has enjoyed a relationship with the Daytona track since 2014. As the Official Healthcare Partner of Daytona International Speedway, AdventHealth cares for more than 1,000 patients each year on-site. In the event of an emergency, there are 11 AdventHealth ambulances, two care centers and nine first aid stations standing ready to care for drivers and fans.

“We’re very proud to continue our support of NASCAR and Ross Chastain by partnering with Trackhouse Racing for the 2022 season,” said David Banks, chief strategy and organizational transformation officer for AdventHealth. “Our team members are also excited to once again care for drivers and fans at Daytona International Speedway during Speedweeks and all season long.”

Also coming up during SpeedWeeks, the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation will host their signature event, Catwalk for a Cause, in Daytona Beach on Feb. 19 to benefit area patients dealing with cancer. The event was created by Sherry Pollex, an ovarian cancer survivor and longtime partner of NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr., to put the spotlight on childhood cancer heroes for a night of fun and philanthropy.

In 2022, her Catwalk vision will be expanding to include a focus on the brave women diagnosed with gynecological cancers. These women will strut the runway alongside prominent women in NASCAR to create an unforgettable night for all.

“I am excited to bring Catwalk for a Cause to the beach,” Pollex said. “I’m looking forward to shining the spotlight on women fighting the same battle that I am!”

A portion of the proceeds from Catwalk Daytona Beach will go toward the construction of a brand new SherryStrong Integrative Medicine Clinic at AdventHealth Daytona Beach. The clinic will offer yoga, cooking classes, acupuncture and more to support a healthy lifestyle during cancer treatment and beyond.