Kicking for a cause
BUFFALO TWP — No one is quite sure who won the second annual Kick-It Cup Friday afternoon on the football field by the camping area of Lernerville Speedway.
It's clear who the winners were off the field.
More than 20 local and World of Outlaw Late Model drivers combined to participate in a kickball game to raise funds for awareness and research devoted to childhood cancer.
The charity game was part of Firecracker 100 weekend.
“We want the drivers to have plenty of time to take the (racing) competition seriously, but we want them to have time to enjoy themselves, too,” said Lernerville general manager Gary Risch Jr., who played in the game.
“This raises money for a national cause, but Jackie Matus (wife of Lernerville Sprint driver Brent Matus) is running a dunking booth here all weekend to raise money to help injured local drivers. We've got both ends covered and race fans always respond to these causes in a very positive way.”
Drivers donated T-shirts and other memorabilia to be raffled off for the Kick-It Cup cause. They also donated money for “extra outs” while at bat, to vacate room in the outfield and to acquire the services of driver Mason Ziegler, who was the standout player of the day.
“I was involved in sports like this when I was a kid,” a smiling Ziegler said. “Kickball was one of them. I was always outside playing something.
“I guess it all came back to me today. That was fun.”
Roughly 300 fans watched the game and nearly $2,000 was raised to fight childhood cancer. Last year's game raised $3,000.
“I've played in a charity softball game on a tour stop once, but this is the only place the (Outlaw Late Models) play kickball,” Ziegler said.
Lernerville's Kick-It Cup is was played in partnership with the Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation. The NASCAR driver's organization was founded in 2009 by a 10-year-old fighting cancer and has raised more than $1 million dollars since.
“We're hoping to expand this here next year,” said Katie Boyer, production coordinator for World Racing Group. “We're hoping to have multiple teams and turn it into a day-long fund-raiser.
“Now that this (kickball) is started, kids want to play, crew members, etc.”
Lernerville publicist Eric Westendorf said teams could represent Lernerville, the Outlaws, local drivers and others.
“The possibilities are endless,” he said.
Local driver Mike Norris of Sarver played in the game and made the most unique raffle item donation — a broken off door to his No. 72 car.
All of the participating drivers signed the door before it was raffled off.
“It was just laying around the garage and I thought somebody might want it,” Norris said. “It was cool coming out here and doing something fun with a good bunch of guys.
“To think we're helping a worthwhile charity just adds to it.”
