NASCAR Technical Institute to Host 25th Annual Stocks-For-Tots Event

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech) will once again serve as host to one of the community's biggest annual fundraisers to help children. On Tuesday, December 10, NASCAR Tech will welcome more than 1,000 guests to its Mooresville campus for the 2013 Stocks-For-Tots event, which raises money annually to support Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children, supporting parents and improving the community.

Stocks-For-Tots was created 25 years ago by the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame as a way to bring together stock car racing and its fans, while assisting SCAN in its mission to raise awareness, prevent and treat child abuse and neglect. Specifically, it will help to provide parenting classes and a parent support group, as well as enabling SCAN to work in the homes of families who need more intensive help. Since 1989, the event has raised more than $1 million and collected more than 50,000 toys to aide raising awareness for child abuse in North Carolina.

Purchasing a ticket for the 2013 holiday fundraiser allows NASCAR fans to give back to their local community while having the opportunity to meet and receive autographs from many of the most-well known drivers and personalities in the motorsports industry, including the legendary Dale Earnhardt Jr., "The King" Richard Petty, NASCAR Hall of Famers Bobby Allison, Rusty Wallace and Leonard Wood.  Current drivers like Ryan Newman, Mike Wallace, David Regan, David Gilliland and Mike Bliss and NHRA Drag Racers Doug Herbert, Greg Anderson and Jason Line will also be available at the event to take pictures and sign autographs. Beginning at 5 p.m., this year's fundraiser will include several celebrity autograph sessions, a silent auction and a chance to visit with Santa Claus.

Due to the overwhelming response that the organization has received regarding this year's event, there are several ticketing options available for attendees. There will be a limited number of wristbands (300) sold that will allow attendees entry to the autograph line. A guaranteed "Fast Pass" wristband will be sold to the first 75 fans who wish to purchase the premium band for $50.  This band will guarantee a Dale Earnhardt, Jr. autograph and allow the purchaser access to the other motorsport celebrity autograph sessions as well.

There will be an additional 225 regular entry wristbands available for purchase at the cost of $10 plus a new unwrapped toy with a value of $10, which will be given to a child of one of the 100 or so families served by SCAN. Any extra toys will go to the Department of Social Services and distributed among other families seeking assistance.

In addition to autograph signing, fans will have the opportunity to purchase items from the Stocks-For-Tots memorabilia store, including autographed sheet metal, wheels, and crew shirts donated by several NASCAR teams.

"Stocks-For-Tots is the perfect family-friendly event, bringing together race enthusiasts eager to support a good cause and NASCAR Tech is honored to once again be a part of this special holiday tradition," said John Dodson, NASCAR Tech's Vice President of  Community and NASCAR Relations. "On behalf of NASCAR Tech students and staff, we are proud to serve as the venue for an event that continually helps to improve the lives of so many young individuals in our community."

All bands will go on sale beginning December 10^th from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame, 119 Knob Hill Road, in Mooresville, N.C. If the allotted number of wristbands is not sold out in that time, the remaining bands will be sold at NASCAR Technical Institute beginning at 4 p.m. that day. For those unable to attend, NASCAR Live with Eli Gold will be broadcasting live from the event to a nationwide audience from 7-8 p.m. EST on all Motor Racing Network affiliates.

For more information on this event, visit www.stocksfortots.com.

About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.:
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) is the leading provider of post-secondary education for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. With more than 170,000 graduates in its 48-year history, UTI offers undergraduate degree, diploma and certificate programs at 11 campuses across the United States, as well as manufacturer-specific training programs at dedicated training centers. Through its campus-based school system, UTI provides specialized post-secondary education programs under the banner of several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech). For more information visit www.uti.edu. Like UTI on www.facebook.com/UTI or follow UTI on Twitter @UTITweet, @MMITweet, and @NASCARTechUTI.

About NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech)
NASCAR Tech is the only school of its kind that combines automotive training and a NASCAR-approved technologies curriculum into one program. Students learn the basics of engine construction, lubrication systems, chassis fabrication, dyno testing, racing theory principles, NASCAR rules and regulations, as well as the teamwork needed in today's automotive and racing industries. Follow NASCAR Tech on Twitter at @NASCARTechUTI.

*High-resolution photos available upon request

SOURCE Universal Technical Institute, Inc.