2012 Pinto Stampede to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project

The second-annual Pinto Stampede will take place May 17-20, beginning at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee and ending in Summit Point, W.Va., at the Jefferson 500. For those keeping track, that's 600 miles in a car that some would have you believe is little more than a rolling Molotov cocktail.

For the second time, the Pinto Stampede will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization that aims to “honor and empower wounded warriors” of the U.S. armed forces. The inaugural run raised $13,000 for the organization. This year's event also celebrates the life and achievements of 2012 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Richie Evans.

Participants in the Pinto Stampede will start by driving 10 laps around Bristol Speedway. If all of their cars aren't on fire by then, the tour will head to the Wood Brothers Racing Museum in Stuart, Va., and then to Martinsville Speedway. After 10 more laps at Martinsville, the tour will drive on to Richmond, Va.

Day two will start in Richmond and break at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. After that, the run will wind down at Summit Point Motorsports Park for the 2012 Jefferson 500 vintage race. Ten Ford Pinto Trans-Am/IMSA cars will be on hand to compete in the race.

“We want to take the opportunity to do something meaningful while having fun, so we included a charitable component by again raising money for injured veterans,” said Norm Bagi, founder of the Pinto Stampede.

“The first Pinto Stampede was so much fun for the participants and for those innocent bystanders who were caught off guard as we rolled past,” said Bagi. “We made lasting friendships while dispelling many of the myths associated with the Pinto and raising money for a worthy and noble cause. This year, the Jefferson 500 will also hold a fundraiser for Wounded Warriors, and we are going to help when we arrive.”

Contributions can be made through the Pinto Stampede donation page or on the Wounded Warrior Project site.

By Jake Lingeman