Car Will Carry City of Refuge Paint Scheme in Atlanta Race
CONCORD, North Carolina - There are few things in life more important to Zane Smith than NASCAR racing, but during Atlanta race weekend he’ll put racing aside for a few hours and help at one of his favorite organizations that focuses on transforming lives of Atlanta residents.
Smith will visit City of Refuge on the city’s Westside at 10 am on Friday Feb. 23 to unveil the paint scheme his No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet will carry during the Feb. 25 NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The paint scheme honors City of Refuge and calls attention to the organization’s work.
"The City of Refuge organization is something that is super important to me. It is special to see community members, organizations and volunteers come together to make an impact on people’s lives," said the 24-year-old Smith who will make his second visit to the organization and speak with business leaders, workers, and residents. "The good work they do across the country continues to amaze me. I look forward to spreading awareness about City of Refuge throughout the weekend in Atlanta."
City of Refuge was founded in 1997 with the mission to transform the lives of individuals and communities in Atlanta and beyond. Its location is in Atlanta’s Westside, where decades of neglect and disinvestment have taken their toll on this neighborhood. In result, the neighborhood has the state’s highest incidences of poverty, incarceration rates and teen pregnancies.
The organization has created several programs designed to impact housing, youth development, health and wellness, and vocation. City of Refuge is a leader in social transformation and continuously works to empower and equip individuals with the tools to succeed.
"In the same way that Zane is passionate about maximizing his speed on the racetrack, we're passionate about helping people maximize their potential and lead fulfilling, self-sufficient lives," said Bruce Deel, City of Refuge founder and CEO. "The overarching goal of our organization is to bring life, hope and transformation to our community, and we're excited to partner with Zane as he amplifies this mission on a national platform."
Deel was a minister in Stone Mountain when he was asked to help close a declining church in West Midtown. Instead, Deel and his family found themselves changing the lives of people with much larger needs. In 2004, Deel acquired an industrial property on Joseph E. Boone Boulevard, in Atlanta’s most violent neighborhood. This is where he wanted to spread his ministry.
The property has multiple offerings, including a shelter for women and children, a preschool serving kids ages six weeks to four years old, a private school serving 4th through 12th-grade students, a Workforce Innovation Hub offering vocational training courses, a cafeteria that serves three hot meals a day, dedicated housing for survivors of trafficking and abuse, a medical clinic, a NAPA garage for automotive training, and more. Neighboring the property are additional affordable housing programs under City of Refuge that serve men, returning citizens, and general members of the community.
City of Refuge’s mission has been to deliver all the resources needed for individuals to turn their lives around over the past 26 years. To continue to break barriers and build momentum, it is critical to keep providing everything needed for people to flourish again. The needs are great but with the right tools the barriers that trap families in poverty can be broken down.
For more information about the City of Refuge or how you can help make an impact on people’s lives, visit cityofrefugeatl.org.
In September, Trackhouse Racing announced a multi-year driving agreement with Smith, the 2022 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion, and its aim to operate three full-time NASCAR Cup Series entries in 2025. In 2024, Smith will race full time in the Cup Series, driving a Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports in an alliance with Trackhouse Racing.
Smith owns 10 Cup Series starts including a 13th-place finish in the 2024 Daytona 500. He retains his rookie status and will be one of the favorites for the 2024 rookie award.
About City of Refuge
City of Refuge was founded in 1997 with the mission to transform the lives of individuals and communities in Atlanta and beyond. Today the organization resides in a warehouse that was graciously donated in the 30314 neighborhood, one of the poorest and most crime-ridden areas in the nation. Since inhabiting the warehouse, City of Refuge has served over 35,000. The organization has created several programs designed to impact housing, youth development, health & wellness, and vocation. The City of Refuge is a leader in social transformation and continuously works to empower and equip individuals with the tools to succeed.