Bob Accardo Jr. to Partner with Make-A-Wish Foundation for TA2 at Sebring

Clearwater, FL [February 20, 2025] – We are thrilled to have Bob Accardo Jr. driving with us for the opening round of the 2025 Trans-Am Series at Sebring International Raceway in the #39 Make-A-Wish America / Cope Ford Mustang. Bob is a passionate racer and owner of R.A.C.E. Marketing USA and is thrilled to announce a partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation for this race. This collaboration aims to grant wishes for children battling critical illnesses, creating unforgettable experiences that will last a lifetime.

Growing up in Northern California, Accardo’s love for motorsports began at a young age, inspired by the Trans Am Series and a childhood dream of becoming a racecar driver. His journey has been a unique one, including a background in bull riding before he turned his focus to racing. In 2015, he established a successful gun shop, which initially funded his racing endeavors at the club level. Recently, Accardo transitioned R.A.C.E. Marketing USA into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, enabling sponsors to receive full tax deductions for their contributions. 

Accardo’s racing resume includes a series of impressive achievements, including championships in the USTCC GT class and recent efforts in the TA2 series. His journey in motorsports led him to race with us at MCR, where he aims to make his debut with the team at the historic Sebring International Raceway.

“I’m incredibly excited about this opportunity to partner with the Make-A-Wish Foundation,” said Accardo. “It’s a dream come true to be able to combine my passion for racing with helping children and their families create lasting memories. It's absolutely my calling and more gratifying than any other life experience I've had so far. It's food for the soul!”
Accardo will be welcoming a special kid named Kevin to Sebring, who is a 16 year old that recently overcame Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. For six months Kevin went through chemo treatment and his strength and resilience prevailed and on September 5 th 2024, his prayers were answered when he received the wonderful news that he had entered remission!

Kevin is a huge race fan and has a dream to be a racecar driver! Bob can’t grant his wish to be a racecar driver right now… but he can get him very close! Bob and our team are excited to give him a weekend at the races that will be second to none!

“He will meet racecar drivers, get autographs and some very cool swag, and sit in a bunch of racecars! He will be fully immersed in the sights, sounds, and smells bringing him closer than ever before to the ground-pounding action creating memories that will last a lifetime.”

Accardo’s first event working with Make-A-Wish took place at COTA in November 2024, where he had the opportunity to meet inspiring families and make connections within the racing community. Accardo is determined to try and continue to secure sponsorships that will allow him to continue this work throughout the racing season and hopefully welcome more Make-A-Wish kids out to the race track for unforgettable experiences! 

“The strength of these kids and their families is nothing short of amazing,” he added. “This partnership helps me stay centered on what’s truly important in life, and I’m honored to share my love of motorsports with those who have the same passion.”

We are excited to have Bob driving for our team this weekend and can’t help but admire his plans and efforts to make Kevin’s weekend at the track a very memorable one alongside the Make-A-Wish Foundation! 

For more information about Bob Accardo Jr. and his partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, please visit www.racemarketingusa.com.

The Sebring race weekend kicks off with two rounds of test sessions on Thursday, February 20th. Practice and Qualifying fill Friday’s schedule. The main event is set to take the green flag on Saturday, February 22nd at 12:15pm Eastern Time for 45 laps of TA2 racing.

Stream all of the action LIVE on YouTube.com/TheTransAmSeries! Make sure to follow Mike Cope Racing on Facebook, Instagram and X @mikecoperacing for updates throughout the weekend.

For more information about Mike Cope Racing and Cope Race Cars, call 727-201-8910 or email megan@mikecoperacecars.com