WASHINGTON,April 24/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Red Cross today launched Red Cross Racing, a new national campaign to recruit NASCAR fans as blood donors and raise awareness of the need to give blood. Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood.

Race fans are now able to join the Donor Rewards Program by visiting redcrossracing.com, an easy way to schedule blood donation appointments online. The site also offers frequent donors the chance to get points, which can be exchanged for Red Cross Racing gear, including caps, t-shirts, jackets and limited edition die-cast cars. Race fans can also join Red Cross Racing at one of the nine NASCAR races where a Red Cross trailer will be on the midway. All participants who sign up between April 24 and October 1 are automatically entered into a sweepstakes for an all-expense-paid trip for two to the race in Phoenix on November 9, 2008.

Through the support of 3M and Roush Fenway Racing -- two highly respected organizations in the NASCAR motorsports world -- the No. 16 Ford Fusion will race this Sunday in Talladega, Ala. in a full paint scheme featuring the Red Cross logo. The car will be driven by Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet member and blood donor Greg Biffle.

People can give blood up to six times a year, or every 56 days, yet only about 37 percent of blood donors give more than once each year. Through this national campaign, the Red Cross hopes to increase the number of blood donations and to encourage people to give more often. The creation of Red Cross Racing seeks to expand on the organization's existing successful partnerships within NASCAR.

The No. 16 Ford Fusion will also feature the full Red Cross paint scheme on November 9, 2008 during the Phoenix race. In both races Biffle will wear a Red Cross-branded fire suit. In addition, the Red Cross logo will be seen on the No. 16 Ford Fusion in eight other races this season.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters,
feeds and counsels victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The American Red Cross is a charity, not a government agency, and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at www.redcrosschat.org.

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