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Auto Racing for Israel

by Rabbi Shraga Simmons; Mar 25, 2012 at 01:27:57 AM

No. 49 Toyota on the NASCAR circuitQuick quiz: What are the two most popular spectator sports in America?

Football and auto racing.

Believe it or not, NASCAR, the elite auto racing group, boasts 17 of the top 20 attended single-day sporting events in the world.

And now, a NASCAR team is looking to spread a pro-Israel message on the race track.

America Israel Racing (AIR), based in the NASCAR hub of Charlotte, North Carolina, was founded in 2011 by two entrepreneurs, Rich Shirey and Mark MacCaull. Their goal is to raise awareness of the importance of supporting Israel.

"The message to the world is that we support Israel 100%, and we want that proudly displayed at these high-profile racing events," Shirey said.

With its unique paint scheme for its No. 49 Toyota – the left side is emblazoned with an Israeli flag – AIR is attempting to place their car in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The AIR car is driven by JJ Yeley, currently 38th in the NASCAR standings.

It is a multi-million-dollar endeavor to field a competitive NASCAR team, but the AIR team is committed to making it happen.

“This is a crucial time in American history,” said Shirey. “We must reaffirm our commitment to Israel. If enough people take a stand, the world will take notice.”

United with Israel, the pro-Israel website with over one million “Facebook likes,” is a co-sponsor of this unique effort to promote grassroots support for Israel.

For more information, visit AmericaIsraelRacing.com.

Tags: Sports
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Published: March 25, 2012

Visitor Comments: 1

(1) Anonymous, March 28, 2012 4:24 PM

you are a fantastic repporteur bravo in isupportyou all ways

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About the Author

Rabbi Shraga Simmons

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Rabbi Shraga Simmons spent his childhood trekking through snow in Buffalo, New York. He holds a degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin, and rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. He is the senior editor of Aish.com and the director of JewishPathways.com.

An expert on media bias, he was the founding editor of HonestReporting.com, and is the author of David & Goliath: The Explosive Inside Story of Media Bias in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (2012). With drama and a biting edge, David & Goliath is a definitive treatment, fully resourced with over 2,000 footnotes. Readers are privy to secret negotiations with CNN executives, and how a grassroots campaign was cited by the New York Times as effecting sweeping changes in Mideast media coverage.

David & Goliath has been praised by politicians, professors and journalists: Former New York Mayor Ed Koch hails it as "Invaluable for anyone wanting the inside story," and James Taranto of the Wall Street Journal calls David & Goliath "of crucial importance for the future of the Middle East."

Rabbi Simmons lives with his wife and children in the Modi'in region of Israel.

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About this Blog

Shraga's Blog presents an eclectic mix of insights on current topics through the lens of Torah Judaism. The author, Rabbi Shraga Simmons, holds a degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin, and rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. He is the senior editor of Aish.com and the director of JewishPathways.com. He was the founding editor of HonestReporting.com and is the author of a new book, David & Goliath: The Explosive Inside Story of Media Bias in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (2012).

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