In honor of the Urban Youth Racing School‘s (UYRS) 25th anniversary, the Hendrick Family Foundation recently made a donation to the Philadelphia-based program.
Hendrick Motorsports and team owner Rick Hendrick have been long-time supporters of the UYRS. On the foundation‘s behalf, Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, presented the organization with a check for $25,000 on Sunday at Dover Motor Speedway. Larson also met with a group of 18 UYRS students and nine chaperones at the track.
The UYRS was established in 1998 by Anthony Martin, whose passion for motor sports led him to create the school. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to exposing inner city youth from the ages of 8-18 to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) career opportunities in the motor sports industry through training, education and on-track driving experience. According to its website, the UYRS has impacted the lives of over 7,500 at risk youth.
Hendrick Motorsports was one of the sponsors for last year‘s UYRS Grand Prix of Philadelphia with Kyle Larson and Friends. That event saw all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers race go-karts on the Avenue of the Republic in the City of Brotherly Love. A number of team Chevrolet drivers also took part in the race.
“Anthony and Michelle (Martin), the Urban Youth Racing School, they do a great job of introducing these kids to motor sports,” Larson said at last year‘s Grand Prix.
“Having events like this. Letting them come out and watch all of us race, and for some people, probably the first time ever behind the wheel of a go-kart. It just sparks interest. There‘s a lot of business opportunities within motor sports. It‘s not just being a driver. I hope we are making a lot of new race fans.”
Larson, who is the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, has developed a close relationship with the UYRS since first working with the organization in 2018. He has seen firsthand the impact the school has made in helping the younger generation find an outlet they may not have known about or considered.
The driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has visited the school with his Cup championship trophy. He also has purchased two racing simulators for them and conducted virtual visits in addition to in-person ones.
In 2023, the UYRS will once again host the Grand Prix of Philadelphia with Kyle Larson and Friends event ahead of NASCAR‘s race weekend at Pocono Raceway. Details around the event will be announced at a later date.
The Hendrick Family Foundation was founded by Rick and Linda Hendrick in 2015. This not-for-profit effort consolidated the philanthropic endeavors of the Hendrick family, including the Hendrick Marrow Program, which raised more than $15 million since 1997. The foundation supports a variety of organizations throughout North Carolina and the country. Those include Levine‘s Children Hospital, Be the Match and Vision to Learn. The foundation‘s signature fundraising effort, the Learn Live Hope Golf Classic, is held in Charlotte, North Carolina, and attracts 240 players and sponsors from all over the United States.
— Hendrick Motorsports —
