SONOMA, Calif. - Race fans and community members can help save lives and also be entered into a contest to possibly meet NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson at Infineon Raceway's 8^th annual High-Speed Blood Drive on Thursday, Sept. 11.  The blood drive will take place from 2-6 p.m.

In addition to aiding a great cause, all those who come to the raceway that day can enter to win a meet-and-greet with Johnson.  Entry forms will be collected at NASCAR Foundation Blood & Marrow Drives around the country, and the winner will be selected in early December.  The NASCAR Foundation will supply race tickets and a VIP tour during the race weekend of the winner's choice (pending Johnson's schedule).

Moreover, every donor who comes to Infineon Raceway will receive a "hot lap" around the world-famous 12-turn road course by a professional instructor from the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School before giving blood. It's a perfect day!

"It has been incredible to watch the (blood) drive grow over the past two years," said Johnson, co-founder of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation. "Each year, we have been able to add more tracks to the program.  This will be our biggest drive yet. It is amazing how everyone is able to come together on one day to make such a huge impact."

The raceway will partner with the NASCAR Foundation, the American Red Cross, Blood Bank of the Redwoods and the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) for this event, which encourages race fans to not only donate blood, but also register for the NMDP Registry.  This event is part of the nationwide 3^rd annual NASCAR Foundation Blood & Marrow Drive, with drives scheduled at 30 tracks all around the country.

Following the hot lap, donors can do their part to help those in need by donating blood and/or signing up for the NMDP Registry.  For more information on blood donor eligibility, please visit www.beadonor.com.  For more about becoming a marrow donor, go to www.marrow.org.

To make an appointment to donate blood at the drive, go to www.beadonor.com and enter the sponsor code "INFINEON."  For more information, contact Diana Brennan at dbrennan@infineonraceway.com. 

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