For Immediate Release: June 16, 2009
Please Contact: Tina Nichols, 419-774-4722, AIDS Educator at the Mansfield/Ontario/Richland County Health Department for more information

Mansfield Motorsports Park Event Combines Auto Racing, a Salute To Fallen Racing Legend Tim Richmond, and HIV/AIDS Awareness & Testing

Mooresville, NC (June 14^th, 2009)  On June 20^th at Mansfield Motorsports Park, fans will experience more than just a day full of blood pumping, auto racing.  When the ARCA RE/MAX competitors come to town, visitors to the track will help pay tribute to fallen auto racing hero and Ohio native Tim Richmond. Fans will also be invited to participate in a brand new motorsports health awareness campaign focused on HIV/AIDS awareness and testing.

The ARCA RE/MAX race, fittingly named the Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA RE/MAX 200 will take place on Saturday night, following a full afternoon of festivities at the track. 

As a tribute to the legend, G-Force Motorsports Marketing, The Goddard Marketing Group and Venturini Motorsports have teamed up with OraSure Technologies Inc., the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio Rural AIDS Advisory Group and the Mansfield/Ontario/Richland County Health Department to promote HIV and AIDS awareness in the racing community.  The alliance of partners will be hosting a HIV/AIDS awareness and free testing event at the track from 2:00-6:00 pm EST on the day of the race. 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that over one million people in the United States are infected with HIV.  Approximately one-fourth (24-27%) of the infected individuals are believed to be unaware of their infection.  CDC statistics highlight the need for expanded testing opportunities for the American public. 

Therefore, in addition to the HIV/AIDS information booth at the track, the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio Rural AIDS Advisory Group and Richland Health will be conducting HIV testing on site at the track with the OraQuick ADVANCE(R) Rapid HIV-1/2Antibody test.  OraQuick ADVANCE(R) is the first and only FDA-approved and CLIA-waived rapid point-of-care test that can detect antibodies to both HIV-1 and HIV-2 in 20 minutes, using oral fluid, finger-stick or venipuncture whole blood or plasma specimens.  OraQuick ADVANCE(R) is used extensively throughout the country in public health settings, hospitals, community-based organizations, and physician offices where HIV testing is conducted, because of its ease of use, high accuracy and rapid results.

The free of charge testing will be conducted from 2:00-6:00pm at the track.  Information and counseling will also be available for anyone seeking more information.  Additionally, fans who participate in the testing will be entered to win a Richard Petty Driving Experience Ride-Along Experience to be used at one of the 20 locations across the country.  The drawing will take place at the track on the day of the event.

In the Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA RE/MAX 200 race event, Jake Crum has signed to drive for Venturini Motorsports. Jake will be driving the #25 as a tribute to Tim who also piloted the #25 during his successful career at Hendrick Motorsports.  Venturini Motorsports team principal, Billy Venturini commented on the event: “I’ve been around racing for many years, and like many in the sport, I believe Tim Richmond helped broaden the markets of motorsports.  He came into the sport from the state of Ohio at a time when most NASCAR drivers called the Carolinas home.  He was about 20 years ahead of his time.  But, it is great to be heading back to the beautiful state of Ohio to celebrate the life and times of a successful NASCAR legend like Tim Richmond.”

“We are also excited to be a part of the HIV/AIDS awareness and testing event because I don’t believe folks realize how many people are affected by this disease,” Venturini continued. “We see the need for everyone to get tested, so they know their status.  It is quick and easy, and we hope all fans and competitors will take a few minutes to get the facts.”

For interview requests or partnership/sponsorship information of Venturini Motorsports OR future HIV awareness and testing events at motorsports venues across the United States, please contact Jeff Goddard at G-Force Motorsports Marketing @ 704.239.5553 or jeff@goddardmarketinggroup.com.  You can also visit www.goddardmarketinggroup.com to discover how your business can benefit from a partnership in motorsports. 

About Tim Richmond

For those who follow the sport of auto racing, Tim Richmond is known as a highly successful driver whose life was cut short due to the AIDS virus in 1989.  Tim competed in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series (currently the Sprint Cup Series) and was one of Hendrick Motorsports most successful drivers, launching the team to contender status while still in its infancy. 

Although voted one of The 50 Greatest NASCAR Drivers, fans may have heard of him, but many are in the dark regarding Richmond’s great contributions to the sport.

While some would argue Richmond’s lack of notoriety is a result of insufficient media coverage of the sport and his death in the 1980’s, some still maintain that it was the simple unknown surrounding the AIDS virus in 1987 that contributed to his forgotten legacy.   So, join us in remembering a motorsports legend. 

Special Thanks:  The Goddard Marketing Group wishes to thank all of the partners who are coming together to make this event a reality.  Venturini Motorsports, Jake Crum Racing, Orasure Technologies, Inc., the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio Rural AIDS Advisory Group, Mansfield/Ontario/Richland County Health Department, and Zer0 to 5ive.