NASCAR Hall of Fame and Toyota unite for heartfelt cause in giving back to military members

The NASCAR Hall of Fame recently partnered up with Toyota for a good cause amid the holiday season. The two organizations came together to donate to Holidays for Heroes, a fundraiser for veterans of the Armed Forces and those serving active duty.

NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director Winston Kelley and Xfinity Series driver William Sawalich were together on Saturday to present a check from Veterans Bridge Home, a nonprofit organization that supports U.S. veterans located in the Carolinas.

Visitors of the NASCAR Hall of Fame who donated to the cause were able to write a personalized message on a 2025 Toyota Tundra, which sat in the venue's lobby. The act of leaving a message on the vehicle was referred to as "Trim the Toyota."

In a statement, Kelley expressed how fortunate he felt that the NASCAR Hall of Fame was able to give back to the community, especially those serving in the military.

“NASCAR has always had a special tie with the military and our armed servicemen and women," Kelley said. “We are honored that the NASCAR Hall of Fame and our guests can play a small role in giving back to military members who have sacrificed so much for our country.”

The NASCAR Hall of Fame was opened in May 2010 and is located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The museum offers a litany of fun, interactive things for tourists to see that honor the history of the sport.

William Sawalich piloted the #19 JGR Toyota this past season on a part-time basis. The 18-year-old made three starts and recorded a best finish of 13th in the season-finale race at the Phoenix Raceway. He is set to move up to the series full-time for JGR in 2025.

Who will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2025?

Jimmy Johnson at the 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - Source: Imagn

New members are added to the NASCAR Hall of Fame every year since its opening in 2010. In 2025, former drivers Ricky Rudd, Carl Edwards, and Ralph Moody will be enshrined this January when they're inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Rudd is best known for making the second-most starts in Cup Series history with 906 races. The Virginia native won 23 career Cup races and was the 1991 Cup Series runner-up.

Edwards competed full-time in the Cup Series from 2005-2016, driving for Roush Fenway Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing across the 12 seasons. The Missouri native won 28 career Cup races and finished runner-up twice in 2008 and 2011.

Moody is a five-time winner in the Cup Series and was well-known for being the co-owner of Holman-Moody, a former race team and race car manufacturer. While they're no longer a race team, the company still operates out of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Meanwhile, Dr. Dean Sicking will be honored for earning the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. Sicking is best known for inventing the SAFER barrier, the protective wall at NASCAR tracks that's helped keep drivers safe.