Atlanta Motor Speedway announced today it has hired Missy Johnson as the new director of the Atlanta chapter of Speedway Children's Charities.

The Missouri native joins SCC with knowledge and experience gained while working and organizing events for several Atlanta-area organizations.

"We're elated to have Missy joining the team," AMS General Manager Brandon Hutchison said. "With the expertise she's demonstrated in her professional career thus far, she's a perfect fit for our charity. With Melissa on board, SCC is primed to do great things for a lot of children in the Atlanta area."

Before joining Speedway Children's Charities, Johnson coordinated activities for Bloom Our Youth, another local non-profit whose mission is to help children. Johnson has also overseen a number of events for the American Cancer Society.

"I've been fortunate to be able to take my professional skills and apply them to causes that improve our community," Johnson said. "Joining Speedway Children's Charities gives me the opportunity to continue that good work and positively affect the lives of children all around metro Atlanta. I couldn't be more proud or excited to get started."

Speedway Children's Charities is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1982 by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. chairman O. Bruton Smith. With chapters based at each of the eight race tracks within the Speedway Motorsports family, SCC is committed to raising funds to be awarded via grants to qualified children's charitable organizations nationwide. To date, SCC's Atlanta chapter has distributed well over $4 million to Atlanta-area children since it was established in 1994.

Each year, SCC Atlanta hosts fundraising events in and around Atlanta, oftentimes partnering with local celebrities and organizations, to benefit metro-area children in need. An annual barbeque festival at the Summit Racing Equipment Atlanta Motorama and the SCC Classic golf tournament highlight its fundraising calendar each year, while NASCAR Weekend auctions, the Red Bucket Brigade and a weekly 50/50 raffle at the track's summertime Friday Night Drags series play major roles at the Speedway's racing events.

To learn more about Speedway Children's Charities or to get involved, please visit www.speedwaycharities.org/atlanta or write to [email protected].