Mayor Kathy Kitts and LugNut, Charlotte Motor Speedway mascot, posed with a Bethel School student at the zMAX Race for Education event last Wednesday.

Bethel students got a taste of the fast life of NASCAR last Wednesday, May 23 at the zMAX Race for Education event at Bethel Elementary School.
Students looked in the windows of the Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS) Show Car, played with gadgets on the CMS Fan Van, and took their pictures with LugNut, Mayor Kathy Kitts, council member Rich Wise, and town administrator David Pugh.
“We had a great turnout for something that was put together so short of notice,” said Wise.
The May Race for Education Program matches up NASCAR Drivers in the Sprint All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600 with a participating North Carolina City. The driver who wins the races will each win a $20,000 zMAX Race to Education award for educational programs in the community with which he is paired.  
Driver Kevin Harvick was paired with the Town of Midland. The winnings would have been used to repair and renovate the Central Cabarrus High School planetarium.
“Kevin couldn’t be here tonight, but we are excited about all the other things the kids will be able to do,” said Mayor Kitts.
Driver Jimmie Johnson won the Sprint All-Star race with Kevin Harvick coming in sixth place. Driver Kasey Kahne won the Coca-Cola 600 race in the Sprint All-Star with Kevin Harvick coming in eighth place.