Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County
Big Brothers Big Sisters and RPM Speedway are hosting the eighth annual Race Cars & Superstars event. The race will be at RPM Speedway at the Ellis County Fairgrounds, on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.
The extravaganza will include local celebrities from Ellis, Rooks, Rush, Russell and Trego counties who will be competing to bring home the beautiful engraved Sterling Silver Winner’s Cup Trophy to keep, provided by Kuhn’s Diamond Jewelers. Each superstar is asked to raise $1,500 and the superstar that raises the most money will get to lead the Superstar Parade preceding the races, be presented with a Sterling Silver Winner’s Cup Trophy, and will be invited back to compete again next year. The race will consist of three heat races with four celebrities in each heat. The winner of Race Cars & Superstars will then be determined in our feature event with the top driver from each of the three heats and the top money raiser competing to see who will take the checkered flag. The traveling Sterling Silver Winner’s Cup Trophy will be presented to the fastest celebrity, and guarantees the winner a chance to defend their title next year. Last year’s winner was Mitch Driscoll; however a previous commitment prevents him from defending his title this year. Look for him to be back next year.
Superstars from Ellis County include: April Basgall (Boom Boom Basgall), Heath Dorzweiler (Coon*ss), Randi Gerstner (Lightning the Queen), Dr. Katrina Hess (Hot Rod Hess), Vaughn McMurtrie (Ditch Digger McMurtrie), Lien Quan (Lien “Q Shorty” Quan), Dr. Brennan Uehling (Bone Crusher Uehling), and Chris Hancock with the Hays Police Department.
Although the goal of each superstar is to raise $1,500, the winner each year has raised much more than that, often with last minute donations in an attempt to secure the win. Last year, Heath Dorzweiler took home the coveted trophy by raising $7,279 for the children in Ellis County. The competition gets fierce as the event draws near with last minute emails and phone calls to business acquaintances, friends, family, and neighbors. If you would like to help any of the superstars in meeting their challenge, you can send your pledge, designating the superstar of your choice, to Big Brothers Big Sisters at 1301 Pine, Suite B.
Race Cars and Superstars is successful each year because of the many people who care about making a difference in lives of children in their community and step up to sponsor the event. Sponsors include Wayne Kieffer and Hays Chevrolet, who provide beautiful Chevrolet pick-up trucks for the Superstar Parade preceding the evening’s race which will carry the Superstars and Little Brothers and Sisters. Hays Chevrolet, Pizza Hut, and Pepsi are sponsors of the VIP room and are generously providing for our Superstars and their fans.
Year round Platinum Sponsors of Big Brothers Big Sisters include: Eagle Communications, Robert & Patricia Schmidt Foundation, Nex-Tech, Midland Marketing Co-op, & United Way of Ellis County, and the City of Hays. Year round Gold Sponsors include Gone Logo, Lifetime Dental Care ~ Dr. Jeffrey & Jana Lowe, Marty & Roxie Patterson, Pepsi, Pizza Hut, A&A Coors, Jeff & Marla Copper, Mid-Western Pipeworks ~ Gary, Lou Ann, & Brandon Geist, and Centennial Lanes. Print Sponsor of Big Brothers Big Sisters is Northwestern Printers ~ Marvin & Jennifer Rack.
Although the superstars are raising money in exchange for a chance to feel the thrill of driving a real race car; their commitment to improving their community by giving back to children is what really makes each driver a true “Superstar.” It promises to be a fun and exciting evening where anything can happen as they take the track and see who can run the fastest. We invite you all to come and cheer on our Ellis County Superstars at RPM Speedway on Saturday evening, Sept. 20th. See you at the races.