BECKLEY — The green flag drops as Greg Biffle slams his stock car into higher gear. Adrenaline pulses through him as his 800 horsepower car accelerates. Fans scream as he reaches speeds close to 200 mph.

Biffle, driver of the No. 16 Roush-Fenway Racing Ford, is sponsored by the 2010 Census.

Jon Cupo, an assistant manager of recruiting for the U.S. Census Bureau, said there’s nothing better than dealing with a class organization like Roush-Fenway.

“Having an A-list driver like Greg Biffle up front and being able to spread the message is really beneficial to what we’re trying to get across,” he said.

The message the 2010 Census is trying to deliver is to make sure everybody in the United States is counted.

“To get everybody (ac)counted for and an accurate count of the population of the USA so we can allocate over $400 billion to federal, state, local and tribal governments,” Cupo said.

But, he said, not enough people in southern West Virginia are applying for available jobs to help get a count of the population in this part of the state, Cupo said.

Without an accurate count of the population in this area, funds that would have been allocated to state, local and tribal governments for the area will not be granted.

Cupo said this money would be used for building recreation centers, churches, textbooks for schools and refunding cities and the environment.

“It’s to better your community,” Cupo said. “And it’s good wage work that you work on your own time and from your home. You’re helping your community — it’s fixing that pothole on Main Street or putting those books in the library.”

It’s also about having a hand in history.

“It’s not only making a difference, but it’s being a part of history in the sense that it only happens once every 10 years,” Cupo said. “You’re tied to NASCAR and national sponsors.”

The partnership with Roush-Fenway came about because it best suited the needs of the Census, Cupo said.

Biffle has won a Nationwide Series championship as well as a Craftsman Truck Series title, and currently is sitting third in Sprint Cup championship points.

He’ll be driving the No. 16 at Bristol Motor Speedway in next Sunday’s Food City 500, and at Martinsville Speedway in the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 on March 28.

In the past, Biffle has had very good finishes at these tracks, Cupo said.

Cupo encourages those looking for work to come out and work at their own pace and help their communities.

The positions are part-time with as many as 40 hours a week.

The Census is seeking only enumerators who go door-to-door to get those in the household.

Pay for the position ranges from $8.25 to $10.75 an hour.

To apply, call 1-866-861-2010 or go online to www.2010census.jobs.gov.

You also can apply at the Beckley office located at Crossroads Mall. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

— E-mail: cjackson@register-herald.com