Sandusky, Ohio (April 11, 2016) – ThorSport Racing, Ben Rhodes and Alpha Energy Solutions are pleased to announce a partnership with Operation BBQ Relief, a non-profit organization based in Pleasant Hill, MO, for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Toyota Tundra 250 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, KS on Friday, May 6. Rhodes, who is currently leading the 2016 Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings, will make his track debut at the 1.5-mile oval piloting the No. 41 Operation BBQ Relief/Alpha Energy Solutions Toyota Tundra for the 16th annual event.
“I’m extremely honored to partner with Operation BBQ Relief for the Truck Series race in Kansas” said Rhodes. “This organization has already done so much to help hundreds of thousands of people across the United States during times of destruction, and I, along with ThorSport Racing and Alpha Energy Solutions, want to do our part to help raise awareness for this great cause.”
Operation BBQ Relief was started in 2011 by eight competition barbecue teams from eight states following the highly destructive and deadly EF-5 tornado that ripped through the small town of Joplin, MO on May 23, 2011. The group was able to serve over 120,000 meals in 13 days to the displaced families and emergency personnel of the impacted area. Almost five years later, the volunteer-based organization has served over 703,000 meals in 18 states through the efforts of over 2,750 volunteers.
“This partnership with Ben (Rhodes), Alpha Energy Solutions and ThorSport Racing will allow us the opportunity to raise awareness for our cause on a national level,” said Stan Hays, CEO and Co-Founder of Operation BBQ Relief. “Our mission is to provide disaster relief through BBQ meals, but to also provide compassion and offer hope and friendship to those whose lives have been affected by disaster across the United States. This platform with NASCAR will allow us to showcase how we help those in need and make a difference in the community when disaster strikes.”
The vision of Operation BBQ Relief is that all people involved in relief efforts during natural disasters will understand the true meaning of compassion for those who have lost possessions and loved ones and that they will further utilize all of their God-given skills and abilities to better the lives of those affected.
In an effort to help raise awareness for Operation BBQ Relief, Rhodes will be at Famous Dave’s, a partner of the non-profit organization, across from Kansas Speedway on Friday, May 6 from 11:30-1pm CT signing autographs.
The Toyota Tundra 250 from Kansas Speedway will be televised on FOX Sports 1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90 at 8:30pm ET on Friday, May 6.
To learn more about Operation BBQ Relief, or to help support their cause please visit: www.OperationBBQRelief.com, find them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/OperationBBQRelief of follow them on Twitter @OpBBQRelief
About Operation BBQ Relief:
The mission of Operation BBQ Relief is to provide compassion, offer hope and friendship to those whose lives have been affected by disasters across the United States through our expertise in cooking and catering barbecue meals and our ability to quickly mobilize our teams into any area where nature disrupts and tears apart the lives of Americans. Over 700,000 meals have been served by volunteers and supported by donations since 2011.
About ThorSport Racing:
ThorSport Racing, based in a state-of-the-art 100,000-square-foot facility in Sandusky, Ohio, is the longest-tenured NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. ThorSport Racing, which has competed in the NCWTS since 1996, will run the No. 88 Menards Toyota Tundra driven by two-time NCWTS drivers’ champion Matt Crafton, the No. 13 Cabinets by Hayley Toyota Tundra driven by Cameron Hayley, the No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions Toyota Tundra driven by Ben Rhodes, and the No. 98 Safelite/Curb Records Toyota Tundra driven by Rico Abreu in 2016.