Stewart and Gordon: Racing for Cancer Discoveries

Jeff Gordon at the Kick-It Cup at Slideways Karting Center. - T.J. Buffenbarger Photo

From the Tony Stewart Foundation

Two legends. Two measuring sticks. Two friends. Two distinct races – the NASCAR Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the 57th Annual 5-Hour Energy Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Store at Knoxville Raceway (Iowa) – are fast approaching.

Last summer, Tony Stewart completed his final Brickyard 400 as a driver in the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series. He asked his spotter to make sure Jeff Gordon was able to make a “final after-the-race lap” with him around the famed oval.

“I can say that just ranks in the top three coolest moments of my 18 years in this series,” Stewart said after Gordon broke away. “To share that moment with Jeff here at Indianapolis, I don’t even have the words for it.”

“It meant the world to me. I have so much respect and admiration for who he (Stewart) is as a person and as a race car driver,” Gordon said.

On August 9th, as part of the events surrounding the 5-Hour Energy Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Store, Gordon has passed the green flag to Stewart and his charitable foundation to benefit from the 5th Annual Weld Racing Go Kart Spectacular. For the first four years, this event has benefitted Gordon’s foundation focused on pediatric cancer research and Tony was in the middle of the action for both karting and the Kick-It For Cancer game. Now, this duo is changing it up while still addressing the disease that impacts virtually everyone.

Three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart has always been an advocate for children and animals, especially those facing serious illness. The Tony Stewart Foundation announced last winter the formation of TEAM ONE CURE to benefit comparative oncology for cancer treatment in people and pets.

“We have learned cancer treatment breakthroughs are happening through collaboration between scientists and doctors working with both people and pets,” said Stewart. “It perfectly fits with my foundation’s missions to help children and animals. Cancer is cancer. We aim to educate people about comparative oncology and improve the lives of all cancer patients, whether they have two or four legs,” shared Stewart.

The August 9th event, hosted by Slideways Karting Center in Knoxville, has an all-star lineup of NASCAR and former sprint car drivers racing their biggest fans. The professional driver line-up includes Stewart, along with Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points leader Kyle Larson, and two-time Xfinity Series Champion and recent NASCAR race winner, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.

Two WELD Racing ambassadors will be competing in this year’s race. “KamiKaze” Chris Day from the highly rated television series “Street Outlaws” and Pirelli World Challenge Driver, Shea Holbrook, will be sharing the seat of the 50th Anniversary WELD Racing themed kart. Together, these five drivers will go head-to-head against 50 race fans in Slideways’ fastest winged karts.

On Friday, August 11th, fans of all ages are encouraged to participate in Tony’s Flip It For Good competition on the Fan Zone Stage on the midway of Knoxville Raceway. The first “largest game of heads or tails” was held July 2016 at Eldora Speedway and set a Guinness World Record. Stewart is challenging the Knoxville fans to break it.

How to Participate in the Karting Spectacular & Flip It For Good

Fans are encouraged to participate in the karting event, but space is limited to 50 drivers. The entry fee/donation is $400 per person. (Participants must be at least 16 years of age.) These 50 fans will receive an event t-shirt and goodie bag containing WELD Racing merchandise and Tony Stewart autographed merchandise.

The karting event is open to the public for a $5 admission/donation per person (12 and under are free) with all proceeds benefitting Team One Cure.

Flip It For Good is open to everyone age 8 and older. This interactive game of heads or tails will be held at the Fan Zone Stage on the midway at Knoxville Raceway. The entry fee/donation is $10.00 per person and includes a keepsake bandana as well as a free photo upload to the Faces of Team One Cure online photo mosaic. Registration is both online and at the track on Thursday, August 10.

Visit http://TonyStewartFoundation.org to register as a go kart participant or to play Flip It For Good.