Racing community helps victims of flood, tornados

Sunday’s Iowa Corn Indy 250 has turned into more than just a race. The Iowa Speedway Foundation has formed Race2Recovery, which will kick off this weekend as the Indy Racing League and more than 30,000 spectators visit the Newton track. Race2Recovery’s goal is to raise $1 million before the 2008 Iowa Speedway racing season ends Sept. 20. “The recent weather has left many Iowans without food, water or even a decent place to live,” said Jerry Jauron, Iowa Speedway president in a statement. “The goal of all the businesses backing Race2Recovery is to jump-start the rebuilding efforts, while letting the recent flood victims know they are not alone.” The money raised will help flood victims as well as tornado victims around the state. IRL teams are combining efforts and will donate $60,000 to the local Iowa chapter of the American Red Cross. Several IndyCar Series drivers signed autographs and talked with volunteer workers and Iowans at shelters around the state Wednesday. Bruno Junqueira went to Des Moines, A.J. Foyt IV and Ed Carpenter went to the Quad-Cities and Ryan Hunter-Reay went to Cedar Rapids. “It’s an awkward situation, but sometimes it can help,” Junqueira said of meeting with volunteers but being unable to provide much assistance. While some may question the weekend’s events going on as planned, Junqueira believes it is the right thing to do and that fans will benefit from having something positive to focus on in the light of trying circumstances. “They have a chance, at least for a day, to stop thinking about it and enjoy themselves,” Junqueira said. Other drivers have mentioned that as well this week in interviews with the Newton Daily News. “For some people there won’t be reason to celebrate,” Vitor Meira said. “We want to do our best to take their minds off what is happening there right now.” Target/Chip Ganassi Racing driver Dan Wheldon said flood victims have been in the thoughts of everybody on his team. “Hopefully we can give them something to take their minds off of what has been going on,” Wheldon said. Craig Armstrong, general manager and vice president of Iowa Speedway, said canceling or postponing the race weekend wasn’t considered. “Our thought was unless the race track itself was affected, we were going to continue as long as we could,” Armstrong said. “Naturally, it was tempered with the idea we wanted to help out as much as we could, and use the race as a spring board to help other Iowans.” Race2Recovery shifts into high gear on Saturday during the IRL race weekend. The Hawkeye Radio Network’s Gary Dolphin and the Cyclone Radio Network’s John Walters and others will broadcast live from the speedway Saturday morning between 9 and 11 a.m. They will lead the call for donors to pitch in to help their friends, neighbors and fellow Iowans as they recover from the recent floods, tornados and storms. The flagship stations of the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, WHO Radio and 100.3 The Bus, along with other radio stations throughout the state plan to carry the live broadcast inviting listeners to call toll free 1-888-55-RECOVERY (1-888-557-3268) until 3 p.m. on Saturday. Donations will also be collected onsite at the Iowa Speedway throughout the weekend. Joining the Iowa Speedway in spearheading the fundraising campaign are Iowa Telecom, Learfield Sports, WHO Radio and Vantus Bank, in conjunction with a number of other area businesses and radio stations, including DISH Network and Radio Iowa. ”It is during these hardships that we come together, as a state, in order to make a difference in the lives of our friends, neighbors, and even complete strangers,” Jauron said. ——— Online: www.Race2Recovery.com.