In keeping with this year’s “Racing for Relay” theme, the teams participating in tonight’s 14th annual American Cancer Society fundraiser will be selling a wide variety of items such as NASCAR memorabilia, food and drinks.
Relay for Life will kick off at 6 p.m. at the Rowan County Fairgrounds on Julian Road. Survivors are encouraged to participate in the Survivor Roll Call during the opening ceremony and may register at the Survivor Table beginning at 5 p.m.
About 100 teams are expected to participate in the 14-hour event, during which they are encouraged to have at least one member walking or running the track at all times. Relay for Life will be held rain or shine.
The goal for this year’s event is $400,000. Last year, Rowan County’s Relay teams raised $379,000 for research and services for cancer patients.
Here are some of the teams’ fundraisers:
– Members of the East Rowan High School Relay team have arranged for the No. 3 car formerly driven by the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. óseven-time winner of the NASCAR championship ó to be at the event.
Relay attendees may bring cameras so they can be photographed with the car, which is being provided by Richard Childress Enterprises and will be at the fairgrounds from 6 to around 9.
– The Piedmont Regional Team of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will be taking photos with a show car to be provided by Dale Earnhardt Inc. It will be the car of either Paul Menard or Martin Truex Jr., both racers for DEI.
Team members will also sponsor a tire-changing competition. Entry fees are a $2 donation for one try or $5 for three.
They will also hold an on-site raffle of a Lowe’s Motor Speedway Club Gift Card worth $50, country ham sandwiches and drinks.
– Smart Start Rowan’s Relay team has arranged for Donnie Allison, former NASCAR driver and co-owner of the Allison Brothers Legacy Series, to be at the fairgrounds to give autographs along with his grandson, Justin Allison, who is now racing the No. 1 car.
Ryan Glenski, who races the No. 28 car for the Allison Brothers, will be taking bids on an autographed panel from one of his wrecked cars and selling pictures to raise money for Relay.
Smart Start team members will be selling several other NASCAR items, including a 2008 Elliot Sadler Daytona 500 Pit road sign; 2007 pit crew shirts and hats; a Kasey Kahne hat and shirt; and an unopened bottle of Sundrop from Dale Earnhardt’s 1979 Rookie of the Year Series No. 1 featuring his photo and autograph. Various team pictures, some autographed, will also be available for purchase.
– The South River United Methodist Church Relay team will be displaying and selling racing memorabilia from Everham Motorsports in Concord. Some of the items will also be in the silent auction.
– Members of the Faith Lutheran Church Relay team will be selling tickets for a drawing for an 1/8-scale Model-T hot rod made by a church member and valued at $300.
– The Make a Difference Relay team will be selling race books featuring an 8-by-10 photo of Dale Earnhardt and other great drivers. These can be framed or used to make clocks and sell for $5.
– Masons Raising for the Cure will hold a drawing for two tickets to the May NASCAR race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
– The ADK Mu Chapter (Muvers) Relay team will be selling Richard Petty caps autographed by the seven-time champion, NASCAR T-shirts, two books, a piece of sheet metal from Petty’s Car No. 43, Richard Petty cards, a toy No. 43 car and Kyle Petty caps and T-shirts and cards.
– The Silent Auction will include a No. 8 bar light, autographed sheet metal from various race cars, racing shoes and gloves autographed by Kevin LePage, a racing jacket autographed by Elliot Sadler, life-sized cardboard cutouts of drivers and a NASCAR tailgate basket which includes two tickets to an upcoming race.
Relay for Life is an overnight event designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money for cancer research and services for cancer patients.
WSAT Memories 1280’s remote broadcast from the fairgrounds begins at 4 p.m.
The 14-hour event will end with an 8 a.m. Closing Ceremony and Final Lap on Saturday.
Rowan County Special Deputies will provide security for Relay for Life.
Contact Kathy Chaffin at 704-797-4249 or kchaffin@salisburypost.com.

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Schedule of Relay for Life events
Today
9 a.m. ó Fairgrounds open for setup. Music begins when sound system is ready.
4 p.m. ó Shuttle van service from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College begins.
4:30 p.m. ó Survivors begin registering at Survivors Tent.
Theme baskets and silent auction items may be viewed in Exhibition Hall.
5 p.m. ó Gates closed to vehicles, and vehicles inside must be moved outside the gates.
Team captains report to the Exhibition Hall.
6 p.m. ó Opening ceremonies begin with presentation of colors by local soldiers and veterans.
Welcome message by Tisha Goodwin, chair of Rowan Relay.
National Anthem by Martha Corriher, president of Landis Unit 146, American Legion Auxiliary.
Invocation by Greg Yeager, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.
Survivor/Caregiver Lap led by East Rowan High School Drum Line.
Survivor Roll Call by Dr. William Brinkley of Carolina Oncology Associates, Dr. David Hall of Carolina Women’s Health, Dr. Greg Mitro of Rowan Regional Radiation Oncology and David Whisenant of WBTV-Channel 3.
Survivor/Caregiver Balloon Release.
Team Roll Call by Marsha Wall and Beth Atkinson, Food Lion Business Women’s Resource Group.
7 p.m. ó Sponsor recognition.
Locks of Love by Becky Sifford with haircuts continuing in the Ag Building.
Music by Sound Sensations DJ Service.
8:15 p.m. ó Thankful Singers of Corriher Heights Baptist Church will perform.
8:45 p.m. ó Luminaria Service preparation begins.
Carson High School Drum Line will circle track to call all to sound stage and request silence.
9 p.m. ó Trumpeter Mark Shue will play “Amazing Grace.”
Lighting of the Luminaria.
Survivors Vanessa Hampson and Savannah Hinson will speak.
9:30 p.m. ó Activities, games and competitions resume and will continue through the night.
Sound Sensations DJ will provide music while bands set up.
10 p.m. ó Divided By Four plays R&B, soul, Motown and oldies until midnight.
11 p.m. ó Drawings for theme baskets and announcement of winning bids on silent auction items in Exhibition Hall.
Saturday
Midnight ó Music by Sound Sensations DJ.
Last shuttle van service to the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College parking lot.
1 a.m. ó Mad Rooster plays classic rock.
DJ provides music until closing ceremony.
8 a.m. ó Closing Ceremony and Final Lap.