Racing For Smiles honoree hits the jackpot at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

by Pauline Calkins

 

The sun shone brightly over the Las Vegas horizon as the Racing For Smiles of the Northwest crew caught a ride with Las Vegas Limousines on their way to pick up honoree, 8 year old, Derek and his dad, Scott. Final destination – Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the NASCAR Shelby American.

 

The Limo arrived at Derek’s house to find him outside waiting with his mom and dad. Ron Hayes, President of RFSNW, presented Derek with a souvenir gift bag containing a Racing For Smiles t-shirt that Derek donned to wear to the track. Along to photograph the day’s events was Brian Calkins from Xtreme Motorsports Media.

 

After arriving at the speedway the entourage made their way to the Speed Channel Sound Stage to meet with hosts John Roberts, Kenny Wallace and Kyle Petty. Before meeting with the trio, Derek ran into A.J. Allmendinger, waiting to make an appearance on the Speed Channel Stage, and got his t-shirt autographed. He then proceeded to get his shirt signed by Roberts, Wallace, and Petty. Home Depot sponsored the Speed Show and the President of Kenny Wallace’s fan club, Brenda Hay gave Derek a Home Depot hard hat.

 

After watching the beginning of the show the group headed back over to the Neon Garage in time to watch some of the race teams push their cars over to be checked by the NASCAR officials. Then it was off to the media center to try and catch some of the drivers on the way into the drivers meeting. Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Boris Said, Dave Blaney and David Reutimann all took time for a few words, an autograph and a picture with Derek before going into the meeting. Comedian Carrot Top, Kurt Busch, and Brian Vickers, made the stop afterwards.

 

Next it was on to pit road. Derek spoke briefly to Victor Waisanen, a member of the safety crew, before making it over to the start/finish line where the stage was set up for the driver introductions. Pit Boss, LVMS mascot, was there to greet the drivers as well as the race fans. He took some time for a photo with Derek. Ron Hayes and Derek also caught up with Bruton Smith, Chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc.. Carroll Shelby, motorsports icon, was on hand as “grand marshal”, took a few minutes to visit with Derek and sign his t-shirt. Racing legend Jr Johnson also took a moment to sign Derek’s shirt and pose for a picture.

 

As the drivers began arriving at the stage, Joey Lagano, Regan Smith, Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth, and Jeff Gordon all stopped for a few minutes with Derek to sign his t-shirt, before making their way to the stage. After the introductions concluded the group made their way back to pit road to catch up with David Ragan at his car waiting for the command to start, on the way Richard Childress and Jack Roush, team owners, both stopped for a quick word with Derek.

 

The National Anthem was sung while the group was standing in Dale Earnhardt’s pit stall. At the end of the National Anthem the thunderbirds from Nellis Air Force Base flew over the grandstands much to the delight of all in attendance. As the crowd started to leave, Kathy a member of the safety crew gave Derek a lug nut from Greg Biffle’s Nationwide car from the day before. Before heading back to the media center, Derek posed with Dale Jr’s pit crew on top of the wall.

 

On the way to the media center, Ron Hayes ran into Phil Dugan, a local Idaho driver that made it into the Camping World West series and introduced him to Derek.

 

Derek’s crew headed back into the media center to the watch the green flag drop that signaled the start of the 285 lap race, then went back to the Neon Garage for lunch and to watch the remainder of the race. After lunch was consumed Ron Hayes led the group to the Legends garage to view the different vintage Legend cars. Then back to the Neon garage in time to watch Juan Pablo Montoya crash and head to garage where Derek was able to watch his crew work on the number 42. While watching the race on the big screens at the Neon Garage, Derek was privileged to have the chance to talk to some of the Thunderbird flyers and get their autographs.

 

Although Derek didn’t get to meet his favorite driver, Jimmie Johnson, his favorite driver won the race. Derek told Ron Hayes that “he would never wear his signed t-shirt again”.

 

Ron Hayes would like to thank Aubrey Hall and staff from the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Public Relations department, Katrina Lopez from Las Vegas Limousines, Joe Maylish, from US Legend Car International, Kenny Wallace, John Roberts, and Kyle Petty from the Speed Channel, Pit Boss LVMS Mascot, Nancy Padula David Ragan’s public relations coordinator, and Dawn Reitz from Hooters.