Edited: Tuesday, September 11, 2007

(PHOENIX, Ariz.) - Today, on September 11, NASCAR fans will have the chance to visit Phoenix International Raceway, where they can roll up their sleeves and save a life. Even as the event fast approaches, appointments to donate still remain.

Phoenix International Raceway, with the American Red Cross Arizona Region and the NASCAR Foundation, is one of over 20 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series tracks scheduled to host the Annual NASCAR Foundation Blood and Marrow Drive on Tuesday, September 11. The PIR event, scheduled to start at 2 p.m. (MST) and end at 8 p.m., will take place within PIR's famed blue walls and one-mile oval, inside the track's infield media center.

Potential donors can register now at www.givelife.org by entering the sponsor code "DONATEPIR" or the zip code "85323." Information is also available at www.redcross.org or by calling PIR at (623) 463-5660.

"It seems quite fitting for racing fans to pull together on this date in which we honor the heroes of September 11, 2001," said PIR President Bryan R. Sperber. "The NASCAR Foundation Blood and Marrow Drive represents a wonderful opportunity for residents of the Valley to give back to one another in the true spirit of how Americans across the country support each other on this annual day of remembrance."

The NASCAR Foundation Blood and Marrow Drive seeks to provide a unique experience that brings out the goodwill and community pride in all race fans. In addition to giving blood, fans will also be encouraged to join the National Marrow Donor Program Registry of volunteer marrow donors.

Those visiting PIR for the NASCAR Foundation Blood and Marrow Drive will have the chance to take in a unique racing experience while at the track. Presenting donors will be entered in a drawing to win one of a number of prizes, including driver-signed hats and diecast cars, as well as tickets to either the Casino Arizona 150 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Friday, November 9, the ARIZONA.TRAVEL 200 NASCAR Busch Series race on Saturday, November 10, or the Checker Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race on Sunday, November 11. All donors will receive a PIR "goody bag," complete with a number of fun PIR racing items for all ages.

Potential donors will also have the chance to take pictures in Gatorade Victory Lane and see PIR from a whole new angle: right in the middle of pit road. For fans coming back to take in the high-speed action of NASCAR's Semi-Final weekend in November, the PIR experience gets no closer than that.

In 2006, 11 tracks combined to collect 1,800 units of blood. This fall, PIR will join a nationwide list of tracks - which has nearly doubled in size - aspiring to collect over 2,500 units of blood.

Potential blood donors must weigh 110 pounds and be at least 18 years of age (17 with a signed Red Cross parental consent form). Potential donors must be in good health, must not have donated blood in the past 56 days, and must present a current donor card or proper form of photo identification at the time of donation.

Donation slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so potential donors are encouraged to act swiftly to take in the ultimate combination of community and racing.