The Ryan Newman Foundation

NASCAR Angels recently paid tribute to former NASCAR crew chief Cliff Champion by presenting him with a car make-over and an opportunity to serve as “grand marshal” at the Ryan Newman Foundation 3^rd Annual Fishing Tournament.

Champion, who served as crew chief for notable drivers like Benny Parsons, Ricky Rudd, Richard Childress and Alan Kulwicki, won the pole at the 1984 Charlotte race with Parsons. His reward: a new SUV. Champion kept most of his other NASCAR awards on a charter boat he owned/operated on Lake Norman. But when the boat exploded in June ‘08, his NASCAR memorabilia was destroyed. The SUV was suddenly the only connection he still had to the sport. Over the years, the SUV had lost its shine. Then the crew from NASCAR Angels stepped in.  After a week of extensive underhood repairs, paint and body work, NASCAR Angels returned the refurbished SUV to Champion on Dec. 12 . T

he very next day, Champion returned to his beloved waters of Lake Norman at the Ryan Newman Foundation 3rd Annual Charity Fishing Tournament. Champion joined Newman during the welcome ceremony by giving the command, “Boaters start your engines!” and also helped captain the media boat during the event.  

The Ryan Newman Foundation 3rd Annual Charity Fishing Tournament will be the featured “Heart of NASCAR” segment in Champion’s NASCAR Angels episode. The segment will profile how the Ryan Newman Foundation encourages people to spay/neuter their pets and to adopt dogs and cats from animal shelters, as well as the importance of conservation.  The segment will feature an in-depth interview with Newman about his Foundation, as well as other sound bites with NASCAR personalities Regan Smith and Tony Stewart who took time out to cast a line at the fishing tournament.  

The episode featuring Champion’s SUV make-over and the Ryan Newman Foundation will air on 200+ TV stations nationwide the weekend of Jan. 31 and on Hallmark Channel Sun., Feb. 8 at 8:00 a.m. EST. 

In its third season, NASCAR Angels focuses on how the racing and automotive care communities can help deserving individuals in need of a transportation fix. The show also features a “Heart of NASCAR” segment, profiling NASCAR personalities’ charitable initiatives. See more at http://www.nascar.com/auto/angels/.                                 

Photo of Cliff Champion below at the helm of the media boat.  Photo Credit:  Brad Bolton, Hindsight Photography

Photo below of NASCAR Angels host Shannon Wiseman and Ryan Newman at the Ryan Newman Foundation fishing tournament. Photo courtesy of NASCAR.