Mon, Aug 30, 2010
Mechanicsburg, PA - On a picture perfect Friday evening Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA held the second of their annual 'Kids Nights', this one for their headline 410 sprint car program known around the world as the PA Posse. To a kid, everyone would admit that a night at the races is special, but Williams Grove Speedway had more than enough fun things in the speedways infield to occupy even the devout young race fan.
There was the moon bounce, giant slide, face painting, clowns folding balloons, games games and even more games, with prizes prizes and even more prizes! In fact every kid in attendance received multiple prizes and this was before the kids big wheel races and bike races even took place on the front stretch of the speedway!
The RAACE Foundation also had its familiar Time to Talk awareness station in the infield in order to talk to the parents about the epidemic of child sexual abuse, its long lasting affects and the fact that through awareness and education it is totally preventable.
Also included at the RAACE display were several sprint cars of the URC racing division including the #5G of TeamRAACE and URC Championship sprint car driver Curt Michael. Many of the stars of the evening also signed autographs at The RAACE display including Danny Deitrich, Brian Monteith, Brian Leppo, World of Outlaws star Justin Henderson and more!
On the track, Tyler Walker of Los Angeles, California scored his first career victory in sprint car competition at Williams Grove Speedway, while Mark Smith of Tower City, PA won the URC feature. Cory Haas started on the pole and set the early pace for the first eight laps. Walker started seventh in the 25-lap main event and moved into second place on the first lap. Walker made his move entering the first turn on lap nine and slid in front of Haas to take the lead. Despite three restarts which wiped out substantial leads for Walker, Posse legend Lance Dewease was unable to make a serious challenge and the Californian rolled to a 1.67 second victory worth $4270.
Walker, 31, has won in every major winged sprint car series in America and all over Pennsylvania, but made it clear that his first Williams Grove win was special. He credited new crew chief Steve Suchy for helping him get to victory lane. Dewease settled for second with Brian Montieth a close third. Brent Marks was fourth and Fred Rahmer, who started 18th, completed the top five. Mark Smith, Todd Shaffer, Danny Dietrich, TeamRAACE driver Steve Buckwalter and Chad Layton finished in positions six through ten respectively.
In the URC feature Mark Smith and Pat Cannon swapped the lead during the early stages before Smith took over and rolled to a convincing victory. Cannon finished 5.53 seconds off the pace. Aaron Ott, who started 13th, charged to a third-place finish. TeamRAACE driver Daryn Pittman moved from tenth to fourth. Blane Heimbach completed the top five. J. J. Grasso, Josh Weller, Davie Franek, Robbie Stillwaggon and TeamRAACE driver Curt Michael rounded out the top ten.
Thanks to The RAACE Foundation receiving half of the 50/50 raffle that evening and the many PA Announcements all in attendance know a little bit more about the epidemic of child sexual abuse and The Race Against Abuse of Children Everywhere. Collectively, we are one turn closer to a world free of abuse!
Unable to attend the years first Kids Night on Saturday, August 7th because of the 5th Annual RALLY for RAACE Motorcycle Ride, Family Fun Day and Kobbfest weekend, Executive Director Brad Brickel thanked the volunteers and racers who held The RAACE Foundations post that night. Kathy Loh said simply: We wish you could have been here for the first one, we had a great one tonight, but we are looking forward to discussing ways that Williams Grove Speedway and The RAACE Foundation can make both Friday and Saturday night Kids Nights in 2011 even better. The RAACE Foundation is a great cause we absolutely have to do our part to help protect our kids.
The RAACE Foundation would like to thank the Williams Grove Speedway ownership, management, kids night volunteers and staff for the overwhelming amount of care given to the kids, the families and The RAACE Foundation at Kids Night and beyond. TeamRAACE would also like to thank all of the race teams and car owners who had their awesome sprint cars on display for the kids to sit in and dream, as well as the drivers who signed autographs in the bright setting sun rite up to their time to go to racing.
The RAACE Foundation is a Maryland based 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the silent epidemic of child sexual abuse. Through awareness and education we can stop this destructive plague on our families and children. For more information, to make a donation of time or funds, or to join TeamRAACE please visit www.raace.org. To get involved with 2011 Kids Night as a vendor or sponsor contact Brad Brickel at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by calling 1.800.755.KIDS.
