FIFTH ANNUAL PHILANTHROPIST OF THE YEAR TO BE NAMED IN LAS VEGAS
The West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame will be announcing the recipient of its 5th Annual Knockin’ Doorz Down Philanthropist of the Year award, presented by 51FIFTY and Allied Packaging Corporation during its March 13 Induction Gala, presented by Wide World Technology Raceway at Gateway.
The latest honoree of the prestigious award – a well-known national foundation – will be revealed during ceremonies to be held at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Its identity will remain a secret until the ceremonies.
Previous winners of the award are:
2024
- The NASCAR Foundation, dedicated to enhancing the delivery of health and wellness programs and services to children in racing communities
2023
- Kurt Busch Foundation and Kevin Harvick Foundation, non-profits operating on behalf of military outreach and youth sports and educational charities
2022
- The Sonoma chapter of the Speedway Children’s Charities, which has distributed more than $6.8 million to qualified Sonoma County, Calif. youth groups
2021
- Mike Curb, recording executive, racing industry sponsor and West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee/honorary Board of Directors member
“Since the Philanthropist of the Year honor began five years ago, the folks at 51FIFTY and now joined by Allied Packaging Corporation in Arizona and our Hall’s executive committee have strived to select the organization or individual that have and continue to dedicate themselves to helping those less fortunate and support varied causes in America,” said Ken Clapp, Chairman and CEO of the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame. “It has been a pleasure to be part of this for myself and I speak for all of our team at the Hall.”
The Knockin’ Doorz Down Philanthropist of The Year award was brought to life by Carlos Vieira, a businessman, an entrepreneur, a retired racecar driver, a father and a philanthropist. Carlos Vieira has spent years of his life living the madness, in which he has overcome obstacles and adversities throughout the years to become the success he is today.
And with that success he has been given opportunities to help others along the way. He founded the Carlos Vieira Foundation in 2010 and began the great works of helping families living with autism, mental illness and drug addiction, through programs such as Race for Autism, Race 2B Drug Free and the Race to End the Stigma campaigns.
Vieira captured all of this in his book Knockin’ Doorz Down, released in 2020, the real-life story of breaking through the darkness of addiction and finding redemption. He continues to live this life of philanthropy and is actively encouraging others to follow suite. This award is a representation of that mindset. To put others first, to lift others up and to always do what we can to help when help is needed.
“Wealth isn’t just about dollars. We all have time, talent, and creativity, all of which can be used for positive change. Share your blessings in whatever form they come and to whatever level you have been blessed,” Vieira said.
The 2025 Class of the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame is comprised of (voted members) Allmendinger; Chuck Gurney; Davey Hamilton; Jeff Jefferson; Justin Marks, Boris Said; and Rick Ware; (Heritage category) Hunt family; Unser family; Mike Sargent; and Sleepy Tripp. The Hall’s second Pioneers of Speed class – Michael (Blackie) Gejeian, Ted Halibrand, Ed Iskenderian, Jack London and Wally Parks – also will be inducted.
The 2025 Class of the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame is comprised of (voted members) Allmendinger; Chuck Gurney; Davey Hamilton; Jeff Jefferson; Justin Marks, Boris Said; and Rick Ware; (Heritage category) Hunt family; Unser family; Mike Sargent; and Sleepy Tripp. The Hall’s second Pioneers of Speed class – Michael (Blackie) Gejeian, Ted Halibrand, Ed Iskenderian, Jack London and Wally Parks – also will be inducted.
About the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame:
The West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame was conceived in 2001 as a means of recognizing significant contributors and contributions to the sport of stock car/motorsports competition. The mission of the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame is founded to preserve history and heritage of the important role west coast stock car and motorsports figures have played in the sport’s development and continuation and to recognize, through annual enshrinement, of outstanding individuals and groups within the sport such as, but not limited to, designers, engineers, mechanics, drivers, race track owners, promoters, publicists and members of the motorsports media.
The Hall is a 501(c)3, soon to be (c)4 charitable organization, dedicated to supporting a variety of organizations and groups from coast to coast. The Hall has raised more than $1 million during the past 6-1/2 years for youth, health and safety, hospitals, animal rescue, military and other charitable causes.
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