NASCAR Driver Races Under Mercy Corps Logo

Mercy Corps International
Thursday, 27 September 2001

Stanton Barrett Donates Advertising Space to Aid Mercy Corps' Comfort for Kids Program

Even at speeds in excess of 150 mph it was hard for the 100,000 spectators at Saturday's MBNA.com 200 at Dover Downs International Speedway in Delaware to miss.

Emblazoned on the front hood of Stanton Barrett's bright red number 91 NASCAR Busch Grand National car was the Mercy Corps logo.

In the world of professional racing where sponsorship money is often the key to success, such a coveted spot on a racecar costs advertisers major money and helps drivers survive financially from week to week. For this week, however, Barrett's mind and effort wasn't focused on his own survival, but rather on the families that lost loved ones in the September 11 tragedy in New York, Washington, DC and Pennsylvania.

"I was initially supposed to fly out of New York to Memphis the morning of the incident and instead had to borrow a car from Paul Newman and drive 1,300 with my father who had just had back surgery," says Barrett.

"Then I found out that a friend had passed away in the plane that hit the World Trade Center. So putting the logos on my car was the only way and opportunity that I had to do something to let the families and my friends know that my team cared."

In addition to Mercy Corps' logo, Barrett's car advertised Firedonations.com, an organization created to help families of firefighters who have lost their lives on the job.

Barrett, 28, is the son of former NASCAR driver and legendary Hollywood stuntman Stanton Barrett Sr. who was the first person to break the sound barrier in a rocket car in 1977 and is a longtime friend of Mercy Corps President and Co-Founder, Dan O'Neill.

The younger Barrett, who lives in Bishop, CA, has followed in his father's footsteps off the racetrack as well, performing stunt roles in movies such as Mel Gibson's The Patriot.

Why did Barrett choose to promote Mercy Corps as his contribution to the American relief efforts?

"I wanted to let people know of great organizations that help with amazing causes and the fact that they give 100 percent to the cause and normally administration costs range from six to 10 percent instead of 50 to 90 percent," he says.

To help defray the $43,000 it cost him to run the car in the Dover race, Barrett says he and co-owner Jody Looney of Fischer Engines turned to friends and family members for support and many of them contributed directly to Mercy Corps' Comfort for Kids program to aid children affected by the September 11 tragedy.

Barrett finished in 27th place at Dover, his third race this season. The race was viewed by hundreds of thousands on national television.

For more information, or to contact Mercy Corps International, see their website at: www.mercycorps.org