Racing Helmets to be Raffled for Columbus Children's Hospital

FOR RELEASE: May 24, 2001

Racing Helmets to be Raffled for Columbus Children's Hospital

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Beginning with the Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Ill., and carrying through to the Pontiac Excitement Nationals presented by Summit Racing in Columbus, Ohio, race fans attending these events will have an opportunity to win a piece of motorsports history. The Central Ohio Pontiac & GMC dealers are raffling a pair of Simpson Racing helmets signed by 43 of the drivers on the NHRA circuit.

To register, contestants will donate $1.00 for each entry form they submit. The winner will be announced before the final round of the Pontiac Excitement Nationals at National Trail Raceway on Sunday, June 17, with all proceeds going to the Columbus Children's Hospital. Fans attending Summit Racing Equipment's Super Summit in Akron, Ohio, on June 8 - 9, and the Dave Gill Pontiac-GMC NHRA Fanfest in Columbus, Ohio, on June 13, will also have a chance to sign up. Winners will receive their helmets approximately two weeks after the drawing.

"This is an outstanding way to commemorate Pontiac's 75th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of the NHRA," said Fred Simmonds, GM marketing manager of drag racing. "We've had such good success during the last few years with the helmet giveaway that we wanted to do it again this year. This is a great opportunity for drag racing fans to pitch in for a good cause and own a piece of history."

The two items to be raffled are officially-licensed, full-scale Simpson racing helmets used by the drivers on the NHRA drag racing tour. Some of the signatures from Team Pontiac include Winston champions Warren Johnson and Jim Yates, Ohio native Mark Pawuk, Darrell Gwynn, Bruce Allen, Tom Martino, Al Hofmann, "Big" Jim Dunn, Tim Wilkerson, Jerry Toliver, Tony Bartone, Del Worsham, Dale Creasy, Bruce Sarver, Richie Stevens Jr., Frank Pedregon, Scotty Cannon, Whit Bazemore and Mike Dunn. Also signing the helmet are GMC Sonoma Pro Stock Truck drivers Jeff Gracia and John Lingenfelter.

In addition to the Pontiac-GMC drag racing contingency, some of the other names on the helmet include Jeg Coughlin Jr., John Force, Kenny Bernstein, Gary Scelzi, Ron Capps, Tommy Johnson Jr., Jim Epler, Chuck Etchells, Kurt Johnson, Larry Dixon and many, many more.

On Thursday, June 14, a group of Pontiac drivers will pay a visit to the Columbus Children's Hospital to sign autographs and meet some of the kids. Mark Pawuk's Summit Racing Pro Stock Pontiac Grand Am will also be on display there.

The 37th annual Pontiac Excitement Nationals presented by Summit Racing at National Trail Raceway in Kirkersville, Ohio, on June 14 - 17 is the 11th race on the 24-event NHRA Winston Drag Racing tour.