BROOKLYN — If charity begins at home, then there’s no place like Michigan.

For the second consecutive year, Michigan International Speedway and its non-profit arm, MIS Cares, are collecting goods to benefit two local charities by hosting a lap around the racetrack from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, weather dependent.

Guests may take one lap in their personal automobiles around the historic two-mile oval in exchange for a new, unwrapped toy or bag of food that will be donated to the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots and CCIS Food Pantry, in Brooklyn, Mich., respectively.

As an additional component this year, guests will be able to visit with Santa in one of MIS’ Pit Road Suites. Mach 1 Racing School will be taking photos of Santa posing with each guest. Pictures may be purchased for $5, with $1 from each picture sold going back to MIS Cares.

MIS decided to continue the Track Drive for Charity due to its overwhelming success in 2009.

Anyone who donates at the speedway or participates in the track drive will automatically be entered to win two tickets to the June weekend at MIS as a guest in the Champions Club, MIS’ all-inclusive hospitality suite. The suite tickets are good June 17-19.

Track drive participants should enter the speedway though the tunnel gate off Brooklyn Highway and follow signs to the infield entry point. Guests will be directed to enter the racetrack via the Pit Road Suite Building underpass, where they will take a controlled pace lap of 25 mph around the two-mile racetrack.

Once around the track, guests will depart the track where they entered.

Toy and food donations will also be accepted at MIS during regular business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Toys for Tots and Food Pantry collection boxes are in the speedway lobby until Dec. 17.

All donated toys must be unwrapped and new. Donated food items should be nonperishable. The Food Pantry is also seeking soap products, paper goods, canned fruits and juices.

MIS’ neighbor Competition Tire will donate a Goodyear vehicle for storage and transportation of all donations collected during the event.

The employees of the speedway and Americrown Corp. will provide support for the event and also make a donation to the two organizations with personal support.

For details on the MIS track drive or donation collection during regular business hours, please call the speedway at (517) 592-6666. Or log onto www.MISpeedway.com