From Ernie Saxton, photo courtesy of NASCAR
PROVIDENCE, RI — NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver David Reutimann will be making a special appearance on Friday, December 4, to compete in the “Coffee Cup” Indoor Auto Races being held at the Dunkin Donuts Center located in Providence, RI.
Reutimann, 39, will be racing in the headline three quarter size midget car division for car owner Lou Cicconi of Aston, Pa. Reutimann’s appearance is being sponsored by Dunkin Donuts. The car will carry Reutimann’s signature No. 00 and the logos of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.
Reutimann will not only compete against 48 other top drivers, but will sign autographs as well for fans before the races get underway at 7 p.m. Because Reutimann is racing on behalf of the Food Bank, fans are encouraged to “Give Back This Holiday Season” by bringing a non-perishable food item to the races that can be donated to that cause.
Reutimann, a second-generation driver from Zephyrhills, Fla., is currently 16th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series point standings with one race remaining. Earlier this year he won his first NASCAR Sprint Cup series event for car owner Michael Waltrip when he received the checkered first at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C.
Reutimann will find the competition very tough at Providence. His teammate Lou Cicconi is rated one of the very best in Indoor Auto racing. Also entered is nine-time NASCAR champion Mike Stefanik from Conventry, R.I., and 2008 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Ted Christopher. Christopher won a main event in Providence last March.
Friday’s show will consist of time trials, qualifying races and a 30-lap main event. While Reutimann will not return on Saturday night, the same program will be run, with a 40-lap main event scheduled.
The Rhode Island Community Food Bank is a non-profit organization located in Providence. The Food Bank solicits stores and distributes food products donated by supermarkets, wholesalers, food processors, local farmers and community food drives. In the past year, the Food Bank distributed 9.5 million pounds of food while feeding more than 50,000 Rhode Islanders each month through a network of more than 300 certified member agency programs across the state. This rise in need reflects a 28% increase over last year. For more information about the Food Bank, please visit www.rifoodbank.org.
Tickets can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations and the Dunkin’ Donut Center box office. Ticketmaster can be reached online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Information on the event will be available at aarn.com or by calling 609-888-3618.