From Kendra Jacobs
WHAT: NASCAR’s three-time champion and World of Outlaw winning sprint car driver Tony Stewart has teamed up with Kick-It, a partner of the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation, to host the second annual Kick-It kickball game at the Knoxville Nationals, sprint car racing’s most prestigious event. The 2013 event will feature four teams – two of the world’s best sprint car drivers, one of their wives and girlfriends, and the fourth team featuring fans that donate to the cause.
The fourth team of fans will be chosen by a first-ever go-karting race against Stewart at Slideways Karting Center. The first 50 donors to contribute $200 or more will be entered in the five heat race, and 20-lap feature event against Stewart on Wednesday of Nationals week. The top-two finishers in each heat race will qualify for the feature event and comprise the fourth team in Friday’s kickball event.
Both live and silent auctions will take place throughout Friday’s kickball game, this year featuring one-in-a-lifetime experiences such as two-seater sprint car rides, commentating events during the 2013 Knoxville Nationals, riding shotgun in the official Knoxville Raceway pace car, participating as a Kasey Kahne Racing honorary crew member, waving the green flag for the SPEED SPORT Knoxville Raceway World Challenge and more. Sprint car and NASCAR memorabilia including an autographed and event-worn Jeff Gordon firesuit and a Bell helmet signed by all Knoxville Nationals participants. Official items from Tony Stewart’s Kick-It Cup will also be auctioned following the game.
All proceeds from the kickball game and auction will benefit Kick-It, a grassroots fundraising program focusing solely on raising money for children’s cancer research.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available.
WHEN: Wednesday, August 7 @ 2:00 to 4:00 pm
WHERE: Slideways Karting Center
1230 Highway 14
Knoxville, Iowa 50138
Tony Stewart will compete against 50
donors in five 12-lap heat races. The
top-two finishers of each heat qualify for the 20-lap feature event.
The 10 feature qualifers will also comprise of the fourth team in Friday’s kickball event
Event is open to the public. Interviews available upon request.
When: Friday, August 9 @ 11:00 AM to 1:00 p.m.
Where: Young’s Park
1000 North Lincoln Street
Knoxville, IA 50138
Four kickball teams made of sprint car drivers, their wives and girlfriends, and the 10 go-karting qualifers will compete for Tony Stewart’s Kick-It Cup trophy.
Live and silent auction featuring once-in-a-lifetime items.
Event is open to the public. All participants available for interviews.
WHO:
*Tony Stewart, three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, driver No. 14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet and owner No. 15 STP and No. 11 Bad Boy Buggies World of Outlaws teams
*Johnny Gibbs, Tony Stewart’s Kick-It Cup VIP Player, 15-year-old survivor of brain and spinal cancer
*Participants: Shane Stewart, Paul McMahan, Brian Brown, Greg Hodnett, Daryn and Mandy Pittman, Rico Abreu, Kerry Madsen, Dale Blaney, David Gravel, Kraig Kinser, Johnny and Carla Herrera (confirmed at this time)
*Emcee: Tony Bokhoven
*Available for interviews
About Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation:
The Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation was established as a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization in 1999 by the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. The Foundation supports children battling pediatric cancer by funding programs that improve patients’ quality of life, treatment programs that increase survivorship and pediatric medical research dedicated to finding a cure. In addition, the foundation also supports the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital in Concord, NC. For more information visit www.jeffgordonchildrensfoundation.org.
About Kick-It:
Kick-It is a national grassroots fundraising program focused solely on raising money for children’s cancer research. Founded by a 10-year old cancer patient who loves kickball, Kick-It events have been held across the country and as far away as Australia. With the help of the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation, more than 1.5 million dollars has been raised for children’s cancer research. For more information visit www.kick-it.org.
About Slideways Karting Center:
Slideways, established in 2002, is a 1/16th, 8 percent banking, oval mile concrete karting facility 1.5 miles north of Knoxville Raceway. The facility provides 22 karts to choose from and safety equipment for all drivers. For more information visit www.slidewayskartingcenter.com.
Donation Page for Go-Kart Event: http://www.kick-it.org/events/go-kart-racing-against-tony-stewart
Donation Page for Kickball Game: http://www.kick-it.org/events/tony-stewarts-kick-it-cup
Twitter Account: @TSKickItCup