Racing for Smiles Program Alive at ASA’s Meridian Speedway

By Ron Hayes and Bill Adams

Meridian, Idaho – May 15, 2005 – Meridian Speedway is pleased to be part of the National “Racing for Smiles” (RFS) Program. Late Model racecar driver Sue Sutton, St Mary’s, Ohio, founded the “Racing for Smiles” program in 1997. It was developed specifically to make the dreams come true for many young race fans that are seriously ill with cancer or other life-threatening illnesses or injuries.

The children involved in the program are patients of local children's hospitals. It is the goal of those persons who oversee the program to make a day to remember for those children a day that has nothing to do with hospitals, doctors, or pain.

It is the programs hope that the next time any of the sponsored children have to go to the hospital to get a painful treatment, they can pull out their pictures and memories of their day at the track and remember a time filled with nothing but joy and happiness.

Meridian Speedway is working with the local “Make a Wish Foundation”. The first RFS event of the 2005 season went off with out a hitch on May 7th. Our RFS child, Ethan, and his Mom Julie took a tour of the pits, sitting in cars, getting T-shirts and touring 2004 Rocky Mountain Challenge Series (RMCS) Champion Zan Sharp’s car hauler.

Ethan’s first autograph of the day came from Dave Minegar; little did he know he was sitting in the car that would win the first RMCS main Event at Meridian Speedway. It was something that put a permanent grin on Ethan’s face.

Racers were happy to stop their race preparations and meet with Ethan. He received several souvenirs. Zan Sharp, Tom Hill and Country Music Station KQFC presented Ethan with T-Shirts that ended up as autograph pads as every driver from the RMCS and local drivers signed them.

Contributions from the Countryman’s Club – Nampa, made it possible to purchase special “Racing for Smiles” T-shirts to present to our RFS children.

Our next RFS Event will be held on June 4^th. If you would like to help with this special project call the Speedway at (208) 888-2813.