As many communities in western North Carolina continue deal with the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, NASCAR’s Hendrick Motorsports and Speedway Motorsports, Inc. are actively involved in the relief effort.

Four of North Carolina’s leading companies have pledged a combined $2 million donation to Sarmaritan’s Purse in support of relief efforts in western North Carolina and throughout the Southeast.

Hendrick Automotive Group, Hendrick Motorsports, Sonic Automotive and Speedway Motorsports will make the collective gift to the Boone-based international relief organization, which is coordinating response across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee.

The companies are led by CEOs Rick Hendrick of Hendrick Automotive Group and Hendrick Motorsports, David B. Smith of Sonic Automotive, Inc., and Marcus Smith of Speedway Motorsports.

“The impact of Hurricane Helene has been catastrophic,” said the chief executives in a joint statement. “Our organizations represent more than 22,000 team members across the country, with thousands based here in the Southeast and many with connections that make this cause profoundly personal. Our neighbors in hard-hit areas face immense challenges in rebuilding their homes, communities and lives, and we will stand alongside them.

“Our companies share a commitment to community involvement and deep roots in western North Carolina and the Southeast region, and we feel a moral obligation to provide support and encourage others to engage in this effort through giving or volunteering. Samaritan’s Purse has an incredible track record of helping people all over the world, and we are proud to support the important work they’re doing right here in our backyard.”

Last week, Speedway Motorsports held Hurricane Helene relief drives at Charlotte Motor Speedway and North Wilkesboro Speedway with support from NASCAR and area companies including Hendrick Automotive Group, Hendrick Motorsports and Sonic Automotive. More than 400 pallets of donated items were transported to North Wilkesboro Speedway for distribution to western North Carolina counties impacted by the hurricane.

Due to the overwhelming need, Charlotte Motor Speedway will continue to take donations each Wednesday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. throughout October. Collections will take place in the Silver Parking Lot at 6558 Bruton Smith Blvd. in Concord, North Carolina.

In partnership with Hendrick Automotive Group, Hendrick Motorsports will host a donation drive Friday, Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. during its Fall Fest Fan event in Concord, North Carolina

The team has also deployed to aid humanitarian efforts in western North Carolina in coordination with Samaritan’s Purse and other groups. The relief flights, which began Sept. 28 and will continue indefinitely, have made more than 100 missions to support search and rescue efforts and deliver food, water and other supplies.

Scott Cooper is Senior Vice President of Communications at Speedway Motorsports, which owns several high-profile tracks on the NASCAR schedule including Charlotte Motor Speedway. That’s the site of Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400 NASCAR Cup Series race.

Cooper explained the progress of the relief effort.

“Earlier this week, the Hendrick family of companies and the Smith family of companies, made a sizeable donation to Samaritan's Purse to try to help the efforts that they are undergoing in our Western North Carolina mountains,” Cooper said.

The Smith Family includes Marcus Smith, the Chief Executive Officers of SMI and the son of SMI Founder the late Bruton Smith; brother David Bruton Smith, and another brother, Scott Smith.

“So far at Charlotte Motor Speedway, we have collected more than 460 pallets of donated items to go help people in people in need,” Cooper said Thursday, October 10. “And there are so many companies and people and volunteers in this room that have been a big, big part of that. The support has been tremendous, but the need is overwhelming and we are going to continue that effort.

“So this Friday at the Fan Fest at Hendrick Motorsports, they are going to have a donation drive dry on Friday. Charlotte Motor Speedway is going to accept items Saturday and Sunday in a variety of different locations during Bank of America Roval 400 weekend. And Charlotte Motor Speedway is also going to continue to accept donations each Wednesday for the remainder of the month of October.”

The items are shipped from Concord, North Carolina to North Wilkesboro Speedway in Wilkes Country, North Carolina, another SMI owned race track.

“North Wilkesboro Speedway is at the foothills and the edge of the mountains so they can be redistributed to the people that need them the most,” Cooper explained.

CMS will also collect at the main entrance and in the campgrounds during this race weekend.

In the days just before Hurricane Helene struck on September 26, Charlotte Motor Speedway opened its campgrounds for all evacuees of the major storm.

Many of those evacuees have been unable to return to western North Carolina because of severe damage to roads, bridges and the communities.