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NASCAR driver delivers lunch, thrills to seniors
by Jeffrey Miles, The Leader
8 August 2003
 CORNING | NASCAR driver Larry Foyt looked poised and prepared Thursday morning, but not for a big race. Instead, he was getting ready to hop in his race car to deliver meals to the elderly.
Corning Meals on Wheels, the local organization that delivers meals to homebound seniors, plan-ned the event with the help of Harrah's Entertain-ment Inc., a Las Vegas-based company.
"This has been a really fun program for me. You've got a really awesome Meals on Wheels facility here," said Foyt, whose father, A.J. Foyt, recently was voted Driver of the Century. "This has been an excellent opportunity to give something back."
Foyt has delivered meals in cities from Las Vegas to Chicago.
During a press conference Thursday, Foyt delivered a check of $1,500 to the Corning Meals on Wheels program. He also signed autographs and handed out race memorabilia.
State Sen. John R. Kuhl Jr., R-Hammondsport, was one person on hand to support the event.
"I am not necessarily an avid NASCAR fan. I like it, and I do plan to go to the races," said Kuhl. "But, I am an avid fan of the Meals on Wheels organization."
Foyt hopped in his No. 14 Harrah's show car and started the powerful, noisy engine. Many onlookers gawked at the sight of a race car on the streets of Corning. A police entourage escorted Foyt across the Centerway Bridge to a small house on Pyrex Street.
Once there, Foyt delivered meals to Billie and Karl Wisner, an enthusiastic couple.
Billie, an energetic woman, took a stroll with Foyt to survey his race car.
"He is a lovely, young gentleman," said she. "His father actually won Karl some money!"
Following this delivery on Pyrex Street, Foyt and his entourage visited Reva Davis at Dayspring Apartments. Davis especially enjoyed her meal after the special service.
"It was a thrill," said Davis, obviously enamored. "If I was 50 years younger, I'd chase him."
In addition to delivering meals, Foyt also joined local fans Wednesday night in a race simulator during Race Fever on Market Street. To race Foyt, a fan could pay $25 and receive a half dozen rubber ducks for the Crystal City Duck Race. All proceeds go to Corning Meals on Wheels Inc.
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