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Joey Gase named inaugural Comcast Community Champion Award winner

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and XFINITY Series Banquet

HOLLYWOOD, FL - NOVEMBER 23: Driver Joey Gase poses for a portrait during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and XFINITY Series Banquet at the Westin Diplomat on November 23, 2015 in Hollywood, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/NASCAR via Getty Images)

NASCAR via Getty Images

During Monday’s combined Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series Awards banquet in Hollywood, Florida, Joey Gase took home some well-deserved hardware of his own.

Gase was named recipient of the inaugural Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award.

“Comcast created the award to honor NASCAR team members for their outstanding charitable endeavors,” according to a Comcast media release. “In addition to being named Comcast Community Champion of the Year, Gase received a $60,000 donation in his name to Iowa Donor Network, the Iowa-native’s charity of choice.”

Part of the reason Gase was chosen was his advocacy for organ donation. When he was 18, Gase’s mother Mary Jo passed away from a brain aneurysm. Gase donated several of his mother’s organs, which led to either saving or improving the lives of 66 people.

“I’m so thankful to Comcast for creating the Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award and recognizing so many great charities,” said Gase. “To be able to promote organ donation at a higher level by winning this award really means a lot to me, the 120,000 people that are on the wait list right now, and all those people who are donors and their loved ones.”

Gase was one of three finalists for the award. The other two finalists, Martin Truex Jr. and Martha Nemechek, received $30,000 each for their respective charities. The story of each finalist can be found on the Xfinity YouTube channel.

“We created the Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award to recognize the inspiring work from NASCAR team members like Joey Gase,” said Matt Lederer, Executive Director of Sports Marketing at Comcast. “His story truly defines what it means to be a Comcast Community Champion, and we are honored to have him as the recipient of our inaugural award.”

The Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series banquet, including Gase’s acceptance of the award, will air this Sunday on NBCSN at 7 p.m. ET.