Throughout the past weekend, more than 60,000 race fans flocked to Homestead-Miami Speedway for Nascar's series-crowning Ford Championship weekend. A combination of three different racing-circuit finales-the Craftsman Truck Series (Friday), Nationwide (Saturday), and Sprint Cup (Sunday)-the event pushed the 600-acre facility's recycling efforts into overdrive.
Event organizers, staffers, and representatives from Coca-Cola Recycling swept the track grandstands, as well as the surrounding RV parks and campgrounds, not once but twice after each race; the first sweep collected all recyclable bottles and cans, while the second round removed trash. In addition, the track put out more than 400 recycling bins throughout its concourses and hospitality areas, and Coca-Cola set up its large mobile marketing vehicle in the midway-pavilion area to educate fans on the benefits of recycling, and to reward them for their participation.
"Coca-Cola Recycling is thrilled to assist Homestead-Miami Speedway in providing race fans opportunities to easily recycle their beverage containers," said John Burgess, president of Coca-Cola Recycling. "Ford Championship Weekend is a great time to educate fans on the benefits of recycling. By helping keep the speedway cleaner, we'll help keep Miami greener."
Concluding on Sunday evening with Jimmie Johnson winning his third consecutive title with a 15th-place finish (the series is based on a point system), the weekend also delivered titles to Clint Bowyer for the Nationwide series and Johnny Benson for the Craftsman Truck series. -Brittany Peitsmeyer
Photo Caption: Carl Edwards flips over his Ford 300 win on Saturday, and though he didn't take the championship, the number 60 driver also came in first place on Sunday as well.
