Homestead-Miami Speedway, in partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, has launched its “Racing to Read” program for second grade students at nine South Florida schools. The initiative, which aims to promote reading among youth, continues through Oct. 26.
Racing to Read features rewards for participating students including:
• Each student who reads a minimum 20 books will receive two tickets to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship race, the Ford EcoBoost 400, at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 18.
• The school that reads the greatest number of books total will garner a school visit from Homestead-Miami Speedway that includes a race-driven No. 99 Carl Edwards NASCAR car.
• The school with the highest percentage of participation in the program will receive a pizza party, compliments of Homestead- Miami Speedway. All participating students will receive raffle tickets to win exclusive items autographed by NASCAR drivers
“We are proud to offer ‘Racing to Read’ in coordination with Miami-Dade County Public Schools,” said Homestead-Miami Speedway president Matthew Becherer.
“Reading is clearly a key to education and, if NASCAR race tickets serve as a catalyst for children to read more, it will be a victory for everyone involved,” he added.
“’Racing to Read’ will offer our second grade students an additional incentive to read books that they love,” said Karen Spigler, Miami-Dade County Public Schools administrative director for Reading/Language Arts. “We in the district are excited to partner with Homestead- Miami Speedway in this exciting initiative and look forward to it continuing for years to come.”
Miami-Dade County Public Schools selected the following to participate in the inaugural year: Cutler Bay — Dr. Edward Whigham Elementary;
Homestead — Air Base Elementary, Coconut Palm K-8 Center, Gateway Environmental K-8 Learning, Goulds Elementary, Redland Elementary and Redondo Elementary;
Leisure City — Leisure City K-8 Center, and
Palmetto Bay — Pine Lake Elementary.
Students in the program can monitor their progress, both individually and against other participating schools, online at homesteadmiamispeedway.com/racingtoread.
The Homestead-Miami Speedway has been open since 1995 following an initiative to spur economic recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. The 640-acre facility is active more than 280 days per year and hosts NASCAR’s Championship Races during Ford Championship Weekend (Nov. 16-18). The Sprint Cup Championship Ford EcoBoost 400 is broadcast live on TV and radio to 175 countries and into 24 languages. The 2011 championship attracted ESPN Television’s largest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series viewership ever with a peak audience of 10.5 million when the checkered flag fell. Homestead-Miami Speedway, featuring a 1.5-mile oval and 2.21-mile road course, generates more than $250 million annually for the region.
For more information, visit online at www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com
