The American Red Cross logo replaced Amoco Ultimate branding on the hood, accompanied by contact information (1-800-HELP-NOW or 1-800-435-7669).
In addition, the official shield of the Fire Department of New York replaced Siemens deck-lid signage on the #93 Dave Blaney Dodge. Siemens, the team's major associate sponsor, joined Amoco in waiving its space on the car for this weekend's race.
Driving For Relief
Driver Blaney and team owner Bill Davis joined other NASCAR teams in generating additional funds in a lap-to-lap fund-raising program. Amoco, Siemens, Davis and Blaney will each contribute $10 per-lap for every lap Blaney runs during the 400-lap race, totaling as much $16,000 for the Disaster Relief Fund of the American Red Cross. Last week BP/Amoco announced $5 million in corporate contributions to help victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center.
Siemens has pledged $2 million to support emergency assistance agencies in New York and Washington. In addition, the company will match contributions worldwide from among its 460,000 employees in 193 countries.
Hands-on Involvement
Sam Pardon, an over-the-wall crew member for the #22 car of Ward Burton and a key member of the fabrication shop at Bill Davis Racing, has spent the week in New York at the World Trade Center (WTC) site, volunteering his metal-work expertise to the massive rescue effort in conjunction with Lincoln Electric, a leading producer of welding machinery and a Bill Davis Racing partner.
Efforts of firefighters at the New York and Washington sites were particularly personal to the #93 Amoco-Siemens crew members, whose road-crew includes four current or former firefighters—Mark Parrish, transporter driver and gas man; Steve Covell, chef and motor home driver; Steve Carter, scorer; and Tim Jackson, pit support.
Jonathan Murath, an active New York City firefighter, was pivotal in Siemens' effort to secure the opportunity to display the FDNY shields on the deck-lid of the #93 Dodge. Murath, currently serving at the WTC site on a 24- hour on-off rotation, is a member of the "Fire Factory" firehouse in Harlem, Engine 58, Ladder 26, located at 115th Street and 5th Avenue in New York. Murath's group has suffered losses in the aftermath of the WTC attack but continues to contribute tirelessly alongside firefighters from throughout New York and the region.