$100,000 raised during last September's race weekend.

For the past three years, Dover International Speedway has played host to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation for a firefighter’s appreciation event, held the day of the Monster Mile’s fall NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

This year is no different, as the NFFF will be back for its fourth straight fall event, billed as “Good Times for a Great Cause” on Oct. 2. This event is held in conjunction with the “AAA 400” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the third contest in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. It provides an opportunity for firefighters and their families to honor and remember lost loved ones, while creating a memorable hospitality experience and raising funds for a great cause.

For just $99, firefighters receive a race ticket, access to a pre-race hospitality tent including an all-you-can-eat buffet and beverages (beer, soda and water), and a trackside tour. All proceeds from hospitality ticket sales, sponsorship donations and a special commemorative “Miles the Monster” firefighter T-shirt are donated to the NFFF.

The numbers for the first three years of the package being offered are amazing, as $93,299 was raised in 2010 alone, contributing to a total donation of $219,199 in just three years. The success of the event in Dover has led to the creation of NFFF options at other racetracks around the country, including Nashville Superspeedway, also owned and operated by Dover Motorsports, Inc.

Sponsors line up each year to help support the NFFF during the fall race weekend at Dover, something Grant Reeves, president of PBI Performance Products, Inc., said his company looks forward to every year.

“As sponsors we love going to Dover in the fall for the firefighter appreciation event,” Reeves said. “Firefighters are enthusiastic NASCAR fans that come out in large numbers to enjoy the special recognition and watch the race. However, the most gratifying part was presenting Chief [Ron] Siarnicki with a check for almost $100,000. This is one of the most successful fundraisers for the Foundation and also one of the most entertaining.”

“Holmatro supports the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation event at Dover International Speedway for one primary reason, and that is the incredible work that the NFFF does for the fire service,” said Giff Swayne, president of Holmatro, Inc. “Each year the NFFF event at Dover International Speedway gets better and better. The ability to help the Foundation in its important mission while at the same time going racing is a win-win for everybody.”

Dover’s NFFF program honors the nearly 100 firefighters who lose their lives each year in the line of duty. Every day, more than one million firefighters around the country respond to calls to keep citizens safe. During race weekend at the Monster Mile, more than 300 fire and EMS crews work to keep drivers, crews and all the fans in attendance out of harms way.

As part of pre-race activities, several fire trucks carrying survivor families of loved ones lost in the line of duty in previous years will take a ceremonial lap around the track.

“The Monster Mile really knows how to treat firefighters right,” Reeves said. “Everything was done to treat our heroes to a first-class experience. From the hospitality tent to the pit passes and numerous other perks, the firefighters were the stars of the pre-race activities.”

To learn more about the NFFF event at Dover International Speedway on Oct. 2, call the ticket office at 800-441-RACE or visit DoverSpeedway.com/NFFF.