{"id":289581,"date":"2025-10-09T15:44:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-09T15:44:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/289581\/"},"modified":"2025-10-09T15:44:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T15:44:10","slug":"jerry-caldwell-daniel-dye-and-wayne-auton-recognized-as-2025-comcast-community-champion-of-the-year-finalists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/289581\/","title":{"rendered":"Jerry Caldwell, Daniel Dye, and Wayne Auton Recognized as 2025 Comcast Community Champion of the Year Finalists"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>PHILADELPHIA, PA.\u202f\u2013\u202fOctober\u202f9,\u202f2025<\/strong>\u202f\u2013\u202fComcast\u202fis proud\u202fto announce the finalists for the 2025\u202fComcast Community Champion of the Year Award, the prestigious annual award created to recognize the\u202fextraordinary\u202fphilanthropic efforts of individuals across the NASCAR industry.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>These extraordinary individuals have shown unwavering dedication and selfless service, creating lasting ripples of positive change\u202fin their communities and beyond\u202fthat reach far beyond the racetrack. From rallying to support their community in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, to breaking the stigma around mental health and suicide by providing education and vital resources, to ensuring students and families have access to nutritious meals when school is not in session, the 2025 finalists embody the true spirit of giving back.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The 2025\u202ffinalists are:\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Jerry Caldwell<\/strong>,\u202fPresident,\u202fBristol Motor Speedway\u202f(Speedway Children\u2019s Charities \u2013 Bristol Chapter)\u202f\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><strong>Daniel Dye,<\/strong>\u202fDriver,\u202fKaulig\u202fRacing\u202f(Race to Stop Suicide)\u202f\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wayne Auton,\u202f<\/strong>Former NASCAR Xfinity Series Director\u202f(The Corner Table)\u202f\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Comcast\u2019s Xfinity brand entered NASCAR as entitlement partner of the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2015 and is now also Premier Partner of the NASCAR Cup Series. Since the\u202fprogram\u2019s\u202finception, Comcast has donated\u202fover $1 million\u202fto\u202f30\u202fnonprofit organizations,\u202famplifying\u202fthe impact of the philanthropic efforts of all finalists and champions.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are inspired each year by the incredible stories of individuals making a lasting impact through the NASCAR community,\u201d said Matt Lederer, Vice President of Brand Partnerships\u202f&amp;\u202fEngagement,\u202fComcast. \u201cThis year\u2019s finalists embody the true spirit of the Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award through their unwavering commitment to service and making a difference in the lives of others.\u201d\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The 2025\u202fComcast Community Champion of the Year will be selected by a panel of\u202festeemed\u202fComcast and NASCAR executives,\u202falong with\u202f2024 Comcast Community Champion Erik Jones.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>2025\u202fComcast Community Champion of the Year finalists<\/strong>:\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Jerry Caldwell\u202f(Bristol,\u202fTN)<\/strong>\u202f\u2013\u202fJerry Caldwell, President and General Manager of Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS), has built a legacy of leadership centered on community impact and philanthropy. Under his guidance, BMS has grown into a year-round sports and entertainment powerhouse, hosting more than 500 events annually, including two major NASCAR races, an NHRA national event, and the beloved Speedway in Lights holiday festival. This signature event is the largest fundraiser for Speedway Children\u2019s Charities \u2013 Bristol, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting children in need across 18 surrounding counties.\u202fWith\u202fCaldwell\u2019s leadership\u202fassistance, SCC-Bristol raised a record-breaking $1,028,325 last year, bringing\u202fits\u202flifetime total to over $21 million donated directly to more than 70 child-focused organizations throughout the region.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Caldwell\u2019s commitment to serving others goes beyond fundraising. During times of crisis, he has mobilized BMS as a vital community resource. Following the devastation of Hurricane Helene in 2024, Caldwell worked directly with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee\u202fand his team\u202fto\u202festablish\u202fa first-of-its-kind regional relief center at BMS. This hub united nonprofits, government agencies, and volunteers to deliver essential aid across Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Western North Carolina, becoming a model now studied by FEMA for future disaster response efforts.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Continuing to elevate BMS\u202fon\u202fa national stage, Caldwell spearheaded plans for the MLB Speedway Classic\u202f\u2013\u202fthe first\u202fAmerican and National League\u202fregular-season Major League Baseball game ever played in Tennessee\u202f\u2013\u202fthis past\u202fAugust\u202fbetween\u202fthe Atlanta Braves\u202fand\u202fthe Cincinnati Reds. That game\u202fnow holds MLB\u2019s highest attendance record for a regular-season game (91,032). In keeping with Caldwell\u2019s mission of service, MLB announced a $50,000 donation from ticket sales to Hurricane Helene relief efforts, linking a historic sporting event to meaningful community support.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Through visionary leadership and a deep commitment to giving back, Jerry Caldwell has ensured that Bristol Motor Speedway is not only a world-class racing venue but also a beacon of hope, creating unforgettable experiences for fans while driving transformative impact across the Appalachian Highlands.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Daniel Dye (Daytona Beach, FL)<\/strong>\u202f\u2013<strong>\u202f<\/strong>Daniel Dye is a rising NASCAR star whose journey on and off the track has been defined by purpose and a passion for saving lives. In 2018, as an eighth grader with dreams of racing at the highest level, Daniel founded Race to Stop Suicide, a nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide. Inspired by conversations with his peers and his own heartbreaking family experience, the loss of his cousin to suicide at just 23 years old, Daniel began using his racing platform to spark tough conversations and provide resources to those in need. Through speaking engagements at schools, conferences, and churches, as well as grassroots racing initiatives, Daniel and his father, Randy Dye, have grown Race to Stop Suicide into a national movement.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>To date, the organization has raised critical funding for mental health facilities like SMA Health and the Halifax Health Adolescent Behavior Center, offering hope and lifesaving support to countless families.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Daniel\u2019s impact reached new heights with the creation of The March to Stop Suicide, an annual event held at Daytona International Speedway. Participants walk the track for\u202f98 minutes\u202fand 8 seconds in honor of the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 988. The 2025 event exceeded all expectations, raising\u202fnearly $230,000\u202ffor Beyond the Brotherhood, a nonprofit supporting Navy SEALs transitioning to civilian life, and local mental health resources.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>While living out his dream racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Daniel continues to carry the message of Race to Stop Suicide nationwide. During Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in September 2025, Daniel\u202fshowcased\u202fhis support for mental health awareness by racing his No. 10 Chevrolet with\u202fKaulig\u202fRacing featuring the impactful \u201cRace to Stop Suicide\u201d paint scheme at\u202fWorld Wide\u202fTechnology Raceway. During Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2025, his No. 10 Chevrolet prominently featured the initiative, including in international competition at Mexico City\u2019s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. This visibility has\u202fmade Race to Stop Suicide a beacon of hope for those struggling, with families sharing stories of loved ones saved and inspired by Daniel\u2019s message.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>By combining his passion for racing with his mission to change lives, Daniel Dye is not only breaking barriers in NASCAR but also creating a legacy of compassion, awareness, and action, proving that even the fastest cars can help slow the race against time when it comes to mental health and suicide prevention.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Wayne Auton\u202f(Newton, NC<\/strong>)\u202f\u2013\u202fWayne Auton has spent more than 40 years in the NASCAR industry, leaving\u202fa lasting legacy\u202fon the sport through his leadership and dedication. After retiring from his storied career, Wayne wasted no time channeling his energy into another passion close to his heart, giving back to his community.\u202fIn September 2024, he began volunteering with The Corner Table, an outreach ministry in Newton, North Carolina, dedicated to fighting hunger and supporting those facing hardship through multiple feeding programs.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Wayne quickly became an integral part of The Corner Table\u2019s operations, dedicating two days each week throughout the year to supporting its three core programs: the Backpack Program, which provides weekend meals for children across 40+ local schools; the Community Kitchen, which serves hot meals five days a week; and the Debbie Payseur Frozen Meals Program, which distributes meals to individuals and families in need throughout the community. His role includes everything from loading and delivering food bags to schools, to managing donation pickups from retail partners like Sam\u2019s Club and Lowes Foods, often handling entire pallets of food.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>As a certified forklift operator, Wayne is also essential in unloading and organizing large food deliveries, ensuring operations run smoothly and efficiently. Always willing to go above and beyond, he steps in whenever\u202fadditional\u202fhelp is needed, whether\u202fit\u2019s\u202fa last-minute delivery or an emergency food run.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Wayne\u2019s commitment, compassion, and reliability have made him a vital member of The Corner Table\u2019s mission to combat hunger. Just as he left a meaningful mark on NASCAR, Wayne now brings that same dedication to serving his community, proving that true leadership extends far beyond the track.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>About Comcast Corporation<\/strong>\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and\u202fplatforms\u202fwe provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations &amp; Experiences. Visit\u202f<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.comcastcorporation.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">www.comcastcorporation.com<\/a>\u202ffor more information.\u202f<\/p>\n<p><strong>Source: Comcast Corporation<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PHILADELPHIA, PA.\u202f\u2013\u202fOctober\u202f9,\u202f2025\u202f\u2013\u202fComcast\u202fis proud\u202fto announce the finalists for the 2025\u202fComcast Community Champion of the Year Award, the prestigious annual&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":289582,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[1406,62,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-289581","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nascar","8":"tag-nascar","9":"tag-sports","10":"tag-united-states","11":"tag-unitedstates","12":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115344983037357279","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/289581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=289581"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/289581\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/289582"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=289581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=289581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=289581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}