Daytona Beach, FL — November 1, 2024
The 2024 Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award recognizes individuals in the NASCAR® industry for their community service-focused efforts to make the world a better place. Michigan’s Erik Jones is one of three finalists for this year’s award.
Erik Jones Community Champion Bio
A natural-born leader, Erik has made significant strides in giving back to the community. Established in August 2021, Erik launched the Erik Jones Foundation, designed to provide charitable donations to organizations and offer direct-to-individual programs within communities across the country. Focused on areas of importance to Erik, the Erik Jones Foundation consists of three main pillars: reading literacy, early cancer screening and detection, and animal welfare.
To support reading literacy, Jones started the #ReadwithErik program during the COVID-19 pandemic as a weekly Facebook Live and, since then, the program has grown to include in-person readings at both racetracks and schools around the country. The Foundation also partners with schools to donate book vending machines and, this year, launched a pen pal program.
After his father lost his battle with cancer in 2016, and with his mother being a breast cancer survivor, early cancer detection and care have been key to the Erik Jones Foundation. During its first year, the Erik Jones Foundation donated $20,000 to the Melanoma Research Foundation and has been instrumental in distributing hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of sunscreen samples and bringing the Sun Bus – a mobile skin screening center – to race fans. The foundation also hosts the ‘Window of Hope’ pink window net program at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL to raise funds for breast cancer screenings and care.
Passionate about animal welfare, Jones has been able to make donations to animal shelters, and partner with key organizations such as the mid-Michigan K9 Association, Adopt-A-Pet Fenton (Michigan) and Rescue Ranch in Statesville, NC.
Two other individuals are finalists for the prestigious recognition.
Scott Crowell Community Champion Bio
Scott is the Senior Manager of Facility Operations at NASCAR Productions / Willow’s Wish Foundation. He has over three decades of experience in the racing industry, transitioning from a pit crew member to team truck driver, and now serving as NASCAR’s Senior Manager of Facility Operations. While his career reflects a passion for racing, his true calling is giving back to individuals and his community. With a deep commitment to genuine care, he excels at connecting with others by rallying volunteers, leading donation efforts, and creating personalized support plans.
Scott has actively engaged in various charitable initiatives, building strong relationships with those in need and volunteers alike. His passion for supporting the special needs community has led him to volunteer for years with the Joyful Hearts organization, particularly during their Joy Prom event. These experiences have culminated in his most rewarding passion yet. In 2020, Scott’s youngest granddaughter was born with a rare trisomy condition. Supporting his daughter and son-in-law through this challenging journey led them to discover a calling for creating lasting change.
This passion culminated in the establishment of the Willow’s Wish Foundation, which fosters inclusive environments. Their current initiative focuses on installing inclusive changing tables in parks and public spaces, each costing around $7-10k. Scott played a crucial role in securing and installing the first of eleven tables in a long-term partnership with the City of Concord. The ultimate goal is to replicate this model across communities nationwide, ensuring a meaningful legacy for years to come.
Susan McKee Community Champion Bio
Susan is the Senior Director of HR / IT at Charlotte Motor Speedway / Speedway Children’s Charities. Leading Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Pit Crew, a group of staff volunteers she helped establish in 2010, Susan proved her undeniable commitment to service through the creation of new campaigns, volunteer programs, and initiatives with a purpose to help those in her community. In August, Susan led the speedway’s seventh annual Day of Service.
Employees showed their commitment to positively impact the community, with 84 volunteers lending over 275 hours of labor to three local nonprofits as well as creating Bags of Hope, sensory kits, and refreshing Blessing Boxes around the community. With the help of Susan’s extensive leadership and guidance, the Pit Crew organized blood drives in conjunction with the American Red Cross and OneBlood that yielded 900 units of blood – helping over 2,600 community members. With a heart for those in need and a passion for giving back, Susan has proven her commitment to serving those in need.
In recognition of the champion’s efforts, a $60,000 contribution will be made to the charitable organization affiliated with the champion. In recognition of the remaining finalists’ efforts, a $30,000 contribution will be made to the charitable organization affiliated with each finalist.
This year’s winner will be announced at a reception during NASCAR’s Championship Week.
About the Comcast Community Champion of the Year Program
The 2024 Comcast Community Champion of the Year program recognizes individuals in the NASCAR® industry for their community service-focused efforts to make the world a better place.
Eligible recipients include:
Any individual with a NASCAR full season license or annual credential from NASCAR’s top-three national series are now eligible for the 2024 award recipients, including:
- Team owners, drivers and all NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™ and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series™ employees
- Full-time employees of tracks that are currently on the schedule for NASCAR’s three series
- NASCAR Media members who have a Print, Broadcast or Photography Hard Card
- NASCAR Officials
- NASCAR Partners/Sponsors
- Family members of drivers with a Hard Card
Past winners include:
2023, Ryan Vargas, Driver, OnPoint Motorsports & 3F Racing / FACES: The National Craniofacial Association
2022, Jes Ferreira, Senior Director, Live Shows at CSM Production, Foster Village Charlotte
2021, Curtis Francois Owner of World Wide Technology Raceway / Raceway Gives
2020, Bubba Wallace, Driver/NASCAR Cup Series/ Live To Be Different Foundation
