Racing to save dogs and cats in shelters

Americans love their pets, and they also love their automobiles. So, what’s the chance that fans of both could join forces to help more dogs and cats go home from shelters? Quite good, thanks to Ally Racing and Alex Bowman teaming up with Best Friends. Alex is the driver of the NASCAR Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 race car.

The powerful stock car might have looked a tad out of place recently in front of the Best Friends Lifesaving Center on West Broadway in New York City. But a closer look revealed the Best Friends logo and images of dogs and cats — sure signs that saving pets is close to Alex’s heart. The branded car reaches millions of race fans across the country with messages to raise awareness about homeless pets and Best Friends’ goal to reach no-kill nationwide in 2025.

Alex’s own dogs — Finn, Roscoe (who passed away in 2023) and his newest pup called Huck — have been his inspiration for donating funds to support pets in shelters. “I’ve always had rescue(d) dogs of my own,” says Alex. “There are so many homeless animals out there who need help, and it means a lot to me to be able to make a difference in their lives.”

Not only do they fund the Best Friends-branded wraps on the No. 48 car, Alex and Ally Racing have donated more than $650,000 to the animals at Best Friends and our shelter partners since the collaboration began in 2021. At each race this year, they’re giving $4,800 to a Best Friends Network Partner local to the race. When the No. 48 Ally Racing team wins a race, they increase the donation to $10,000.

This season is heating up, and that’s especially good news for the animals. When Alex won the Grant Park 165 race in Chicago on July 7, Ally Racing donated $10,000 to Chicago-based network partner, One Tail at a Time.

[Grant helps save more dogs in Chicago shelters]

The next stop was the NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania. There, thanks to the Ally Racing Team, a team from Best Friends was on hand to talk to pet-loving race fans in the track’s Fan Zone area. People stopped by to pick up free #BringZoomiesHome swag. The tagline is part of Best Friends new “Bring Love Home” campaign to promote pet adoption and lifesaving. Nearly 500 people had their photos taken in front of a green screen, with the finished product depicting the group alongside the No. 48 car.

During prerace activities Alex visited the Best Friends Lifesaving Center in New York, with the Ally Racing show car parked out front. Alex walked dogs, played with cats, and helped with grooming. To top off a fantastic long weekend, Ally Racing covered the adoption fees for animals adopted from all Best Friends locations around the country. It added up to a total of 183 pets going home.

“Dogs have made me an animal lover. It’s great having them in my life,” Alex says. “And it’s gratifying for me to be able to say thank you by giving back.” While he travels the NASCAR circuit, you might see one of Alex’s dogs along for the ride. Finn is a veteran traveler, while Huck is still learning the ropes.

[From Times Square with love]

“I had a couple of dogs as a kid, but the story for me really started when I adopted Roscoe when I was around 18 years old,” says Alex. “Learning how to take care of an animal was cool. Pets bring us a lot of happiness. They are always excited to see us. There are a lot of zoomies at home for me.”

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.