Charlotte, N.C. [MAY 21, 2025] – Ford Performance is proud to launch “Driving 4 a Difference presented by the Gene Haas Foundation,” a new in-season tournament within the NASCAR Xfinity Series that blends high-level competition with meaningful charitable impact. Five drivers of the Xfinity Series Ford Mustang Dark Horse will contend for a $50,000 purse to be split across the five charities of their own choosing.
The four-race challenge will unfold across a key stretch of the Xfinity Series calendar, beginning at Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 24), followed by Nashville Superspeedway (May 31), Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City (June 14), and concluding at Pocono Raceway on June 21. Throughout these events, Ford’s Xfinity Series drivers will compete in a points-based internal tournament using the standard NASCAR scoring system, including stage points. However, if a Ford driver wins, their total points from that event will be doubled.
Taking part in the challenge are Sheldon Creed, Sam Mayer, Harrison Burton, Ryan Sieg, and Kyle Sieg. Each driver has aligned their efforts with a charitable organization that reflects their personal passions. Creed will represent the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, Mayer will race for the Starkey Hearing Foundation, Burton has chosen All Within My Hands, Ryan Sieg will support the Isabella Santos Foundation, and Kyle Sieg will compete on behalf of Motor Racing Outreach.
At the conclusion of the final race at Pocono, the driver with the highest point total will be the winner. Their charity will receive $20,000, second place gets $15,000, and the remaining three charities will be awarded $5,000 apiece.
Driving 4 A Difference reflects Ford’s ongoing commitment to racing with purpose-empowering its drivers to create meaningful impact in the communities and causes that matter most to them. With
the support of the Gene Haas Foundation, the initiative brings a deeper sense of purpose and motivation to an already competitive stretch of the Xfinity Series season.
About Ford Performance:
Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, World Endurance Championship, SRO, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and our latest commitment in Formula 1 with Red Bull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford’s racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing’s activities, please visit Performance.Ford.com or follow @FordPerformance on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
About Gene Haas Foundation:
The Gene Haas Foundation was established to give back to the community by supporting local charities in Ventura County, California, where Gene Haas’s business is based. Early efforts focused on organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs, Food Share, and the Rescue Mission, among others, to assist those in need.
Over time, the Foundation’s mission expanded to support a cause Gene Haas is deeply passionate about: enhancing manufacturing education and introducing young people to careers in industry. The Foundation now plays a significant role in advancing technical education through several initiatives:
· Scholarship grants awarded to schools for students to receive CNC training
· Sponsorship of teams to participate in robotics and racing competitions where they design and manufacture the “product”
· Teacher Training: Grant funded, summer training programs at seven selected schools, taught by skillful, experienced educators
· Haas Technical Educators Conferences (HTEC): Collaborative events for educators to be introduced to the latest technology and share best practices.
· Gene Haas Centers and Labs: An endorsement grant award for preeminent training facilities and schools who are expanding their programs.
Through these initiatives, tens of thousands of students have received scholarships, participated in FIRST and SAE competitions, and gained hands-on experience in manufacturing.
Today, the Gene Haas Foundation donates millions annually to educational programs and community organizations. All grants are awarded exclusively to tax-exempt entities through an online application process. In 2024 alone, the Foundation distributed over $32 million in grants, bringing its total contributions since 1999 to more than $225 million.
About Friends of Jaclyn Foundation:
The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for children battling pediatric brain tumors and other childhood cancers and to raise awareness through their Adopt-A-Child, Safe on the Sidelines and Guardian Angel Programs.
They do this by pairing the afflicted child and their siblings with local high school and college sports teams, campus clubs, and arts programs in their community. If your team or club is ready to start making a difference in a child’s life. Please register today.
About: Starkey Hearing Foundation:
Over the past 40 years, Starkey Hearing Foundation has brought the gift of hearing to nearly 1.5 million people around the globe, inspired by co-founders Bill and Tani Austin’s drive toward sustainable community-based hearing healthcare and supported by many generous donors.
As we look ahead, our goal remains the same: access to hearing healthcare through sustainable community-based providers. To make that vision a reality, the foundation’s focus has shifted from international hearing missions to an even larger approach to systems change through in-country partnerships, education, training, and capacity building.
About All Within My Hands:
All Within My Hands is a non-profit, philanthropic organization created in 2017 by the members and management of Metallica, dedicated to creating sustainable communities by supporting workforce education, the fight against hunger, and other critical local services.
The Foundation aims to assist and enrich the lives of members of the communities who have supported the band for years, as well as encourage participation from fans and friends.
About Isabella Santos Foundation:
The Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF) is dedicated to funding research for rare pediatric cancer and providing support to children and families affected by this disease in honor of Isabella Santos, a courageous cancer warrior who lost her fight to neuroblastoma in 2012. Since 2007, ISF has been a beacon of hope, leading collaborative efforts with medical institutions. Today, ISF remains steadfast in its dedication to eradicating the devastating impact of rare pediatric cancer by expanding its efforts beyond its hometown through the TORCH Initiative.
About Motor Racing Outreach:
Motor Racing Outreach (MRO) is a non-profit organization founded in 1988 to serve the Cup Series community. It was founded by Max Helton in response to a need presented by three drivers within the series who were unable to attend regular church services due to the demands of their schedule.
MRO’s ongoing presence at races demonstrates its commitment to meeting people where they are, adapting faith to the fast-paced world of professional racing. Whether offering a moment of prayer before a race or providing support in times of crisis, MRO ensures that spiritual care is always accessible. The organization remains dedicated to being a constant source of faith, hope, and community for everyone involved in motorsports.