December 17, 2010
By Rebecca Gladden
When I attended this year's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony in Las Vegas, I stayed at the Stratosphere Hotel, where the National Motorsports Press Association had arranged a special room rate for members.
The banquet was Friday night, but I arrived in town on Thursday and was spending that evening in the Stratosphere casino, trying my hand at the slots. As I meandered around the casino floor, something in the distance caught my eye -- something that looked like a life-sized Danica Patrick cardboard cutout.
Photo Courtesy WAM
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As it turned out, it was a Danica Patrick stand-up -- autographed by Danica herself -- and it was just one of hundreds of impressive items of NASCAR memorabilia spanning the length of several large conference tables at the far end of the casino.
The amazing array of autographed items, from diecast cars to cardboard cutouts to real race-used sheet metal, was on display as part of the First Annual Champion's Week Fundraiser being held at the Stratosphere by the Women's Auxiliary of Motorsports (WAM). The event was a four-day silent auction consisting of items signed by Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin and many other NASCAR stars.
Shannen Showalter, President of WAM, helped man the tables at the silent auction and told me that event represented the organization's desire to expand beyond the Charlotte area where it is based. "WAM is trying to venture out a little bit more than just our local facilities we've been using. Charlotte Motor Speedway has been the track we're mostly known at, but I think we are now trying to venture out to the tracks on the West Coast. A lot of people don't know about the Women's Auxiliary. We are the oldest NASCAR charity out there."
Photo By Rebecca Gladden
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Silent Auction Memorabilia
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Indeed, the Women's Auxiliary of Motorsports can trace its roots to the Winston Cup Racing Wives Auxiliary, which was founded in 1965, long before the existence of the NASCAR Foundation or individual driver's charities. In 2004, that group merged with the Busch Series Ladies' Association to form WAM and included Truck and ARCA Series family members as well.
Showalter, whose husband Chris works in the Camping World Truck Series, said the organization has been revitalized as a younger generation breathes new life into it. "Some people might say that fundraising is hard work and that it's a headache. Bu I think the ladies we have in our group right now and on the board are go-getters. We're a working board and no one gets paid to do what we do. We do this strictly out of our own time and we like doing it. The reward at the end is what we strive for."
Surprisingly, you no longer have to be a NASCAR wife or relative to join the Women's Auxiliary of Motorsports. You don't even have to be a female. Annual membership dues are just $10 for those with a direct connection to the industry, but anyone can join as a "Friend of WAM" for $25 a year, including NASCAR fans.
Photo By Rebecca Gladden
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Silent Auction Memorabilia
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The silent auction that WAM was holding in Las Vegas exemplifies the fundraising efforts the charity does throughout the year. With a special interest in helping women, children and families, the organization also helps members of the motorsports community in times of need.
"Fans think everybody in racing makes a million dollars, but there are a lot of the lower teams such as ARCA and Camping World Truck Series start-up teams that aren't owned by the big owners and they don't carry insurance. These gentlemen have to buy the insurance on their own or they just go without, or they've been laid off and no longer have insurance. This is where we step in and we help them out as much as we can," Showalter said.
"WAM was at the Legends race that Larry Pearson got injured in. We had a suite there that evening and we immediately wanted to do something. We found out that a lot of the guys that built the sport are unfortunate not to have the funds that the drivers today have. So, where we step in is to try to help them out when funds are not available to them. Not everybody's insurance can cover what Larry went through. His dad and Jack Ingram came out to an event for us and signed autographs and all the proceeds went to his hospital bills."
Showalter added, "We also provide memorial funds. When someone in racing passes away, we donate to a charity or cause that the family will let us know about. We did that this year for Jim Hunter and Jeff Byrd and numerous other memorial funds."
Photo By Rebecca Gladden
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Silent Auction Memorabilia
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WAM is not paired with any particular driver, so they are at liberty to help many of the driver's own foundations. The Auxiliary recently contributed to the charity foundations of Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Kasey Kahne.
Because many of WAM's active members work in NASCAR or are related to men who do, they have ready access to the sport's top stars for autographs -- a key component of fundraisers like the one I attended. The remarkable collection of signed items in Las Vegas was gathered over just a few weeks, thanks in part to the steadfast support of SPEED TV's Wendy Venturini, according to Showalter.
Items not sold at the Stratosphere will be photographed and listed for sale on the WAM website in the near future.
Proceeds from the silent auction and web sales will benefit a number of worthy causes, including toy drives for Speedway Children's Charities Las Vegas, the Martinsville Speedway, and Jeffrey's Closet, as well as assistance for the Mooresville soup kitchen, an area women's shelter and more. The group is also coordinating a "Senior" Santa tree, like those commonly seen listing toy requests for children, because "a lot of people forget the elderly around the holidays," said Showalter.
Photo By Rebecca Gladden
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Silent Auction Memorabilia
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Among all the exceptional autographed items to choose from, Showalter said one in particular is likely to receive the highest bids. "I'd have to say it's going to be the item I received last week, and that is the No. 3 Wrangler car autographed by Dale Jr. It's very hard to get autographed and those cars actually just made it to all of the stores within the last three weeks. For him to have signed that for anybody is probably next to impossible. We have one of maybe 10-15 that are signed, so I know that's an item that isn't out there and I am hoping it is going to bring in a lot."
Until the remaining auction items are posted online, NASCAR fans are encouraged to support the Women's Auxiliary of Motorsports by filling out and mailing the simple application form on the WAM website.
The organization tries to surprise members throughout the season with free race tickets, pit passes and suite seats when they are available, and hopes to offer more member incentives in the months ahead.
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