Lloyd Carr promotes Wolverines for Life as Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 Grand Marshal

Former U-M football coach encourages organ, blood and tissue donations at Michigan International Speedway event Sunday

BROOKLYN, Mich., June 17, 2011  /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- It's only natural, that a true "Michigan Man," will serve as the Grand Marshal at Michigan International Speedway, a venue widely known for celebrating it's state's heritage.

Lloyd Carr, the former University of Michigan football coach and recent College Football Hall of Fame inductee, will serve as the Grand Marshal for the Father's Day Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race Sunday.

"It will be great to host Lloyd Carr and his family at Michigan International Speedway and show him what all the excitement around NASCAR is about," MIS track President Roger Curtis said. "Carr is a household name in Michigan and there are a lot of NCAA football fans in the NASCAR garage that I'm sure will be excited to meet him."

In his 13 years (1995-2007) as head coach of Michigan football, Carr compiled a 122-40 record leading the Wolverines to five Big Ten championships, won the 1997 National Championship with a perfect 12-0 record, and finished the season in the top 25 in 12-of-13 years. In games against top ten-ranked opponents, Carr was 19–8.

Carr will be part of a University of Michigan team attending Sunday's race to promote Wolverines for Life, an effort to encourage life-saving blood, organ and tissue donations. Wolverines for Life is a collaboration between the U-M Health System and other groups, along with the American Red Cross, Be the Match/National Marrow Donor Program, Gift of Life Michigan and the Michigan Eye-Bank.

"I am a Wolverine for Life, and that goes well beyond the athletic field. Through Wolverines for Life we hope to wipe out the deaths that occur because people are waiting for life-saving organs, blood or tissue. Every day, 19 people die while waiting for a transplant. That's a score we can't live with," Carr said.

In addition to his on-field accomplishment's Carr, has been very active off the field too. Carr has been extremely instrumental over the years in raising his players' awareness to the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, as well as funding for the new hospital. Because of his devotion, the pediatric cancer center at the hospital will be named the "Coach Carr Pediatric Cancer Unit" when the floor opens later this year.

Also, an avid supporter of women's athletics, Carr endowed a scholarship dedicated to a woman student-athlete. He initiated the Women's Football Academy, whose proceeds benefit the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Carr has served on the NCAA Rules Committee and is a member of the American Football Coaches Association Board of Trustees.

The Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Live television coverage of the race is on TNT.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tickets for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 on June 19 and NSCS 400 on August 21 are now on sale too and as low as $30. Visit MISpeedway.com or call the MIS ticket hotline at 800-354-1010 today to take advantage of great pricing for 2011 events at MIS.

Nestled in the lush Irish Hills of Southeastern Michigan, Michigan International Speedway is a Great Escape, a venerable NASCAR national park where race fans and sports fans can get away and enjoy the very best in racing and camaraderie. It's the fun of NASCAR and the thrill of a great time for guests and drivers alike.

You can also visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MISpeedway or Tweet with us @MISpeedway.

Michigan International Speedway - 2011 Schedule
Saturday, June 18 NASCAR Nationwide Series Alliance Truck Parts 250
Sunday, June 19 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400

Friday, Aug. 19 Meijer Pole Day
Saturday, Aug. 20 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series VFW 200
Sunday, Aug. 21 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Sunday, Sept. 11 Spirit of America Blood Drive - 10th Anniversary!

SOURCE University of Michigan