Kaulig Racing Powers NASCAR Foundation’s Biggest Speedy Bear Brigade Yet

Something incredible happens when NASCAR drivers aren’t chasing checkered flags. They’re chasing smiles on kids’ faces. This year marks the ninth time Kaulig Racing has stepped up to the plate for something that matters way more than any trophy. It’s bringing joy to children stuck in hospital beds across North America. The NASCAR Foundation’s Speedy Bear Brigade, powered by Kaulig Giving, just delivered its most considerable effort to date. We’re talking about 5,000 NASCAR-themed teddy bears heading to 135 hospitals across all 50 states, as well as Mexico and Canada. That’s not just impressive numbers on paper. That’s 5,000 chances to turn a tough day into something brighter for a sick kid.

When Racing Hearts Beat for Something Bigger

Matt Kaulig gets it. The executive chairman and founder of Kaulig Giving knows what it’s like to see his drivers battle through adversity every weekend. But watching a child fight something far more challenging than any race track? That puts everything in perspective.”A stay here is never easy for kids, and these bears are a simple way to deliver comfort, positivity, and cheer to children across the country.”

Kaulig shared about the program. It’s refreshing to hear someone in this sport talk about something beyond lap times and horsepower. Kaulig Racing didn’t just write a check and walk away. They kicked off this year’s Brigade right in their backyard at Akron Children’s Hospital in Ohio. Fifth year running, they’ve partnered with the NASCAR Foundation, and it’s clear this isn’t some corporate PR stunt. This is personal.

The Real Victory Lane

Here’s what gets you right in the gut about this whole thing. These aren’t just any teddy bears. They’re NASCAR-themed, which means some kid lying in a hospital bed gets to hold onto a piece of the sport we all love. Maybe that bear gives them something to dream about while they’re fighting battles no kid should have to face.Nichole Krieger from the NASCAR Foundation nailed it perfectly: “Seeing the joy and smiles that these NASCAR-themed Teddy Bears bring to a child’s face is what this program is all about.” You can almost picture it. A little one clutching that bear, maybe imagining they’re in Victory Lane instead of a hospital room.

Beyond the Bears: Real Financial Impact

But Kaulig Racing and the NASCAR Foundation aren’t stopping at stuffed animals. Through the Foundation’s Speediatrics Children’s Fund, they’re handing out $10,000 grants to select hospitals participating in the program. That’s real money going toward real medical needs, equipment, programs, whatever these hospitals need to help kids heal. This is where you see the true heart of what Kaulig Racing represents. Sure, they want to win races and championships. But they also understand that success means nothing if you’re not lifting others up along the way.

How Fans Can Join the Fight

The beautiful thing about the Speedy Bear Brigade? It’s not just about what the teams and foundations can do. NASCAR fans can also get in on the action. For $ 25, you can sponsor a Speedy Bear and know that your donation is putting a smile on a child’s face. Visit NASCARfoundation.org/speedybear to be part of something special.

What This Really Means for Racing

This is precisely the kind of story that reminds you why NASCAR matters beyond the competition. Yeah, we love the speed, the strategy, the drama of it all. But when you see organizations like Kaulig Racing using their platform to make a real difference in kids’ lives? That’s when you remember that the best victories happen off the track. National Teddy Bear Day might seem like just another calendar date, but for 5,000 children across North America, it became something magical this year.

Thanks to Kaulig Racing’s commitment and the NASCAR Foundation’s vision, September 9th delivered hope, comfort, and a little piece of racing joy to kids who needed it most. The checkered flag will wave again next weekend, and we’ll all get caught up in the excitement of racing. But right now, the real champions are wearing hospital gowns and holding NASCAR teddy bears, dreaming of better days ahead. And Kaulig Racing helped make those dreams possible.