Braun Trades Racing Gloves For Hammer & Nails

  Braun Trades His Racing Gloves for Hammer and Nails

Colin Braun usually works sitting down in his No. 6 Con-way Freight Ford F-150, but today he traded his comfortable racing seat for some manual labor to support a good cause.  Through the NASCAR Foundation, Braun was one of several drivers who participated in building a playground in the Charlotte area.

The KaBOOM! Playground build at Elon Homes for Children in Charlotte, N.C., was part of the events leading up to the 2008 NASCAR Day on May 16.  The playground's design was based on drawings by children served by Elon Homes.  For more than 100 years, Elon Homes has been serving children in the Charlotte area by providing a safe place to live and educational facilities to meet their special needs.  The organization helps more than 750 children and did not have a playground – until today.

"Helping build the playground was a really great experience," Braun said.  "I've never done anything like that and it felt good to know it was helping kids who might need some fun in their lives.

"Since I don't have a lot of building experience, I helped construct some flower boxes.  They let me use a hammer and I didn't even hurt myself, or anyone else, so that turned out well.  It was cool to see guys like Greg Biffle and Tony Stewart take time from their busy schedules to help out too.  It was a great cause and a fun time."

Braun will put his hammer away and return to the track on Friday for the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.