Highland Speedway along with the Helvetia Sharpshooters is doing its part to curb hunger for the 2009 racing season.

Race fans can bring a canned good to the ticket gate during regular season racing for a $2 discount. The regular adult ticket price of $12 will then be just $10. All of the food collected will be distributed to the area’s food pantries throughout the 2009 season.

“We’re really looking at ways that we can try and help people during this troubled economy, and what better way is there than to help stock the area’s pantry shelves,” said Scott Kuhn, the new track promoter at Highland Speedway. “We just want to do our part to help the community.”

Local schools, church groups and other civic organizations also will be given the opportunity to clean trash and debris from the grandstands following racing events this season. “This is a great way for groups to raise money for their organization’s events,” Kuhn said. “We’ll try and provide that chance to make money to any area organization that contacts us.”

Kuhn is the new track promoter for the 2009 season. He and his wife, Gina, are leasing the race track.

Kuhn, a 1990 graduate of Highland High School, owns and operates Transport Refrigeration Services, a local trucking company, as well as an auto parts store, WRP Speed Shop. His racing resume includes time spent in North Carolina on the Winston Cup Team for Petty Enterprises. Kuhn has raced at tracks from Richmond, Va., to Charlotte, N.C. He returned to the Highland area in 2004 with his wife, Gina, and two children, Tyler, 9, and Amanda, 5.

Sue Zobrist will serve as the 2009 season track manager.

Opening day at Highland Speedway is Saturday, April 4, and will include a live broadcast with The Rock 97.5.