Today, Nationwide Children’s Hospital welcomed the personalized Crosley jukebox Kentucky Speedway gifted to Dale Earnhardt Jr. in honor of his retirement and soon afterwards was donated to the hospital in the racer’s name. The Crosley jukebox will be located in the Dale and Amy Earnhardt Activity Room on the hospital’s Rehabilitation Unit.
“I can’t think of a better home for this custom Crosley jukebox than the Dale and Amy Earnhardt Activity Room at Nationwide Children’s Hospital,” said Mark Simendinger, general manager at Kentucky Speedway. “The care provided here on a daily basis is phenomenal and we are proud to help in this mission.”
Prior to officially presenting the jukebox to Nationwide Children’s, the Kentucky Speedway team loaded the Crosley jukebox with 80 songs that were suggested and voted on by patients and patient families of the hospital, as well as Earnhardt Jr. and NASCAR fans, via the hospital’s social media channels.
“On behalf of the patients, families and staff here at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, we are so grateful for this donation,” said Niki Shafer, senior vice president, outreach, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation. “Music provides a wonderful way for patients and their families to express themselves and this unique gift will be a tremendous joy to many who are going through some significant challenges.”
Earnhardt Jr. received the gift from Kentucky Speedway during the Quaker State 400 on July 8. Prior to the race, Patient Champions from the hospital were treated to a day of VIP experiences. Additionally, during race week, Earnhardt Jr. made his second visit to Nationwide Children’s in just under three months, visiting patients on the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Rehabilitation Unit. Earnhardt Jr. and his Hendrick Motorsports race team also participated in a kid-friendly press conference at the hospital.
The jukebox is one of what has been several retirement gifts to Earnhardt Jr., who announced his retirement in April from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series after the 2017 season. Crosley Brands awards its signature jukebox to each of the Kentucky Speedway race winners.
Nationwide, the primary sponsor of Earnhardt’s No. 88 Chevy SS, and a long-time benefactor of the hospital, dedicated one of the company’s paint schemes to Nationwide Children’s for the Quaker State 400. The logo and the hospital’s signature butterflies adorned the racecar and Earnhardt Jr.’s race suit.
Kentucky Speedway PR
