The Bristol Motor Speedway is hosting its annual Sherry Pollex Memorial Day weekend. The event honors the memory of a popular Bristol resident who died in 2006 at the age of 46 after a long battle with cancer.
Sherry Pollex, a retired US Marine Corps Major General, is serving as the Grand Marshal for Bristol Motor Speedway.
Sherry Pollex, courtesy of Getty Images, prepares to drive the pace car at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Bristol Motor Speedway will be kicked off by a special visitor. Grand marshal will be Sherry Pollex, Martin Truex Jr.’s lifelong girlfriend and co-founder of the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation. On Saturday, Sept. 18, she will say the most famous words in racing and instruct the drivers to start their engines (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network).
Pollex broke the news in a heartfelt tweet. Truex will run an unique Sherry Strong scheme throughout the marathon, which refers to the site she established to empower other women, give vital information, and help them identify the signs of ovarian cancer, which she demonstrated. Pollex went on to say that Johnny Morris, the founder of Bass Pro Shops, had requested her to deliver the order at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The race at Bristol Motor Speedway will be Pollex’s second high-profile appearance as part of the pre-race festivities. She previously drove the pace car at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the 2018 Bank of America Roval 400.
Pollex got into a Toyota Camry TRD pace car with a Sherry Strong emblem on the doors and led the field to the green flag to start the Round of 16’s last race. Ryan Blaney took first place in the race and advanced to the Round of 12 with Truex and ten other drivers.
With a Special Event, Pollex & Truex Kicked Off the Weekend
Highlights from the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation’s Catwalk for a Cause, in which youngsters undergoing cancer treatment walk with NASCAR drivers. pic.twitter.com/2SSTdFQEbx
September 16, 2024 — Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass)
With Pollex acting as grand marshal for the Bristol race, the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation has had a memorable weekend. On Wednesday, Sept. 15, the group held its 11th annual Catwalk for a Cause to raise funds, raise awareness, and increase support for underfunded ovarian and children cancer research.
The unique event included some of NASCAR’s greatest stars walking down a catwalk alongside cancer-stricken youngsters. Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Ryan Newman, Truex, William Byron, and Clint Bowyer were among the drivers that accompanied and danced with the youngsters.
For the first time in Catwalk for a Cause’s history, fans who couldn’t make it to the event got exclusive access. They could tune in to a live stream of the event on YouTube, donate, and bid on a variety of goods.
Prior to the special evening, Truex and Pollex spoke with Fox Sports reporter Bob Pockrass and shared their enthusiasm about bringing the fundraising event back after a one-year break. They stated that the Catwalk for a Cause is their most important fundraising event, with the 2019 edition raising $650,000.
NASCAR Drivers Joined Forces to Raise Funds
The Catwalk for a Cause is the most recent method that NASCAR drivers and other notable racing figures have shown their support for the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation. They also sold the space above their doors for future races at an auction.
In early September, the best drivers from ARCA, Truck, Xfinity, and Cup came together for an unique auction. Fans may bid on the chance to have a cancer hero’s name engraved on the door of a racing vehicle for a date at Martinsville (Truck Series) or Kansas Speedway (ARCA, Xfinity, and Cup).
The auctions ended on Sept. 13, with a large number of fans contributing to the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation’s fundraising efforts. On eBay, one individual paid $3,251 to have their name added on Kurt Busch’s No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet Camaro.
READ NEXT: For the 2024 Season, Kaulig Racing Loses a Key Sponsor
Sherry Pollex is serving as Grand Marshal at Bristol. This is a ceremonial position that recognizes the achievements of those who have been instrumental in shaping the city over time.
