( CNN ) -- Engines rev up Sunday for the start of the 2013 NASCAR season with the 55th running of the Daytona 500 , stock car racing 's biggest event . But for one driver , the race is about more than a possible trip to victory lane . Michael Waltrip is racing for Sandy Hook . The events of December 14 left most of America stunned and clutching their children a little tighter . The loss of 20 children and six employees at the Newtown , Connecticut , elementary school united people in grief across the globe , many of whom had an immediate desire to help . NASCAR President Mike Helton was among those . He knew that his stock car racing family had to act . Two-time Daytona winner Waltrip said Helton called him up and said , `` I 've got something I think we should do for the Daytona 500 . '' Helton , Waltrip and Swan Racing -- the team Waltrip will drive for in Sunday 's race -- had a private meeting with Newtown officials , community leaders , first responders and victims ' families in early February . At a February 14 event in Daytona Beach , Florida , it was announced that Waltrip 's car number 30 would be changed to 26 and his colors would be green and white to honor those lost . There will also be a message on the car , `` Text Newtown to 80888 , '' for fans to make a $ 10 donation to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund , which was established by the United Way of Western Connecticut and Newtown Savings Bank . NASCAR says 100 % of the funds raised will go directly to help meet the needs of the Newtown community . Those needs are two-fold , according to Waltrip . First , he said he hopes having a personal connection to the race will give the townspeople a boost , even if momentarily . A city official `` told me that after that meeting she 'd seen smiles on some people 's faces that she had n't seen since the devastating events of December 14 . So on Sunday for a little bit of time at least , I think the town can escape reality and enjoy one of the greatest sporting events in the world with something to root for , '' Waltrip said . `` And secondly who knows what kind of therapy and recovery the children and schoolteachers and the people of the town will need going forward . So it 's going to be a lot of money for counseling and helping people through that day and who knows what all the money could be used for -- a memorial , a new school . ... We just want to make sure that there 's always money there to help people in need . '' Waltrip also owns a racing team , Michael Waltrip Racing , and all three of his drivers entered in Sunday 's race -- Clint Bowyer in No . 15 , Mark Martin in No . 55 and Martin Truex Jr. in No . 56 -- will have decals on their cars to support the cause . `` We 're ready to go racing , ready to put some smiles on faces and raise money , '' Waltrip said , who also is tweeting information about the campaign drive . Donations have already started coming in , Waltrip said . NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France and his wife , Amy , pledged a personal donation of $ 50,000 , and the NASCAR Foundation has matched that donation , according to Waltrip . `` Looking out at a room of smiling faces amidst the aftermath of a horrible tragedy was very powerful , '' France said . `` It hit me that the NASCAR industry and our passionate fan base have an unbelievable opportunity to rally around this cause and make a huge difference . '' Waltrip is counting on fans when he climbs into his car Sunday afternoon , and he said he has faith his extended family will come through for the people of Newtown . `` I think you see it all the time and that 's the reason why we do it because they ( fans ) respond , they support . They want to help worthy causes as well so we rely on that 75 million people in our fan base to step up when we have a great cause . And that 's what makes it so special that the fans really appreciate what we do and they really want to be a part of it . '' He added , `` Driving the No . 26 Sandy Hook School Support Fund Toyota is like nothing I have ever been part of in my NASCAR career . It will be an emotional week knowing that we have the potential to do so much good for the Newtown community . I 'm racing for a reason . '' Donations also can be made online or by mail : . Sandy Hook School Support Fund . c/o Newtown Savings Bank . 39 Main St. , Newtown , CT , 06470 .
NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip is racing a special car in 2013 's Daytona 500 . The car 's number will be changed to 26 for the 26 victims of the Newtown crash . There will be a call to action for fans to text ` ` Newtown to Chicago '' to make a $ 10 donation . The Daytona 500 is NASCAR 's biggest race and the start of the 2013 season .