Multiple members of the NASCAR industry have set out to provide support and supplies to the multitudes affected by Hurricane Helene.
The tropical storm caused devastation along the Florida coast before heading north. States in its path included South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
According to USA Today, Hurricane Helene has resulted in the deaths of more than 100 people. Millions of homes and businesses lost power. Several cities and towns in Western North Carolina were flooded by the excessive rain, making it difficult for rescue workers to provide aid.
Helicopters owned by Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports traversed the affected areas while providing support to those without supplies. Former driver Greg Biffle partnered with popular YouTube creator Garrett Mitchell -- known as Cleetus McFarland -- to deliver supplies throughout the affected areas.
This is really bad wait until end #westernnorthcarolina #hurricanehelene pic.twitter.com/PlvTHfKWc9
— Greg Biffle (@gbiffle) September 30, 2024
"The effort is incredibly wide," Biffle told Shannon Spake on Monday. "When we started, there were two helicopters in the air. ...The next morning, there was probably 20 helicopters that showed up.
"By the end of the day, there was probably 30 to 35 helicopters, including NASCAR teams. I think Hendrick and Gibbs had their machines up in the air."
Biffle added that one of the airport hangers in Statesville, North Carolina, was full from the donations made by those who just wanted to help however they could.
Operation Airdrop, a Texas-based organization, has been helping organize all of the volunteer pilots who have been on hand dropping off supplies to those in need. According to the organization, about 30 helicopters were working out of Hickory, North Carolina, and 50-100 airplanes were working out of Statesville.
One of these volunteers was NASCAR Hall of Famer Carl Edwards, who was on hand with Gideon Rescue to facilitate search and rescue efforts.
Long line of people volunteering in Statesville, NC at the airport to shuttle supplies into Appalachia area.
Thinking about you all, hope this helps. pic.twitter.com/TR79uiI7VM
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) September 30, 2024
Brad Keselowski provided a glimpse at the support in Statesville on Monday afternoon. He posted photos showing the people showing up en masse to drop off supplies at the airport.
The contributions continued on Monday as Kaulig Racing got involved in a big way. Team President Chris Rice posted a video on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, showing team employees working together to box up donated supplies for the trips west.
I'm picking up as much as I can haul in my @TeamChevy Tahoe.
Any amount at all that can be donated helps! Bring it to the @KauligRacing shop in Welcome, NC and we'll get it to where it needs to go. https://t.co/ReVnJJ4ebt pic.twitter.com/WLynbkPbMV
— Chris Rice (@C_Rice1) September 30, 2024
Rice also posted a photo showing multiple carts loaded with items like diapers, tuna, oatmeal, juice, and cleaning supplies. He had said the team was heading to purchase $3,000 worth of supplies for those in need. This photo served as evidence.
"It's always sad when things happen, but when things do happen, Americans come together," Rice said. "That's what's so cool."
Rice noted in his social media posts that people could bring donations to the Kaulig Racing shop in Welcome, North Carolina. He would ensure that these supplies made it to those in need.
Kaulig Racing is not the only organization accepting donations in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Joe Gibbs Racing will also accept water, boxed non-perishable food, and tarps at the team shop until 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday morning.
#ForwardTogether pic.twitter.com/yOYKiMhOyL
— 23XI Racing (@23XIRacing) September 30, 2024
23XI Racing also got involved in the support efforts on Monday. The organization announced that it would donate $1 million to two deserving recipients. $500,000 would go to the NC Disaster Relief Fund and $500,000 would go to Second Harvest of Metrolina.
One participant who flew under the radar was Jeffrey Earnhardt. He and Queen City Overland spent Monday gathering 12,000 pounds of supplies and delivering them to those in need in Hendersonville and Asheville.
The list of supplies included five pallets of water, several canisters fuel, and whatever else the group could fit in the bed of Earnhardt's truck.
The trip was not without minor setbacks for the group. They had a bent trailer axle and two blown tires, but this didn't keep them from completing the drop-off.
More and more members of the industry have continued to get involved in recovery efforts as the week has continued. Trackhouse Racing and team owner Justin Marks were in Western North Carolina on Wednesday helping however they could.
Responding today with @TeamTrackhouse and Aerial Recovery to Asheville ❤️🩹 pic.twitter.com/yxEwlbZLbp
— Justin Marks (@JustinMarksTH) October 1, 2024
Team Penske's Joey Logano pledged to make a $250,000 donation through the Joey Logano Foundation while JTG Daugherty Racing's Ricky Stenhouse Jr. began selling shirts to raise money for those affected. He pledged to match the proceeds.
Stenhouse's team also delivered pallets of supplies to Charlotte Motor Speedway using one of their heavy-duty trucks.
The list continues with Daniel Suarez, who stopped by Walmart to purchase a large amount of supplies for the dogs and cats in Western North Carolina.