Let's Go Racing Column for August 7th! By Mike Babicz

(Lake Geneva, Wis.,  August 7, 2006)-  Racing is a family sport. How big of a family can sometimes very.

During the past month I have witnessed how the racing community, and human beings in general, come together.

A family I know had their home burn down with the only child, a 9-year-old boy, losing virtually everything including his pets. While at Road America for the June Sprints just days after this tragedy, following a conversation with co-announcer Ed Conway of Atlanta, drivers at an autograph session were made aware of the situation. Upon Ed’s return to the tower a program with autographs from all of the drivers, as well as many additional kind words and messages plus race cards were brought up to take back to him. The Road America 4-Mile Merchant Store put a gift bag together.

Then a driver from Ohio who was being interviewed was asked to autograph the book. When he was told why, he asked if monetary donations were being accepted. This total stranger who has still not met this family reached into his wallet, took out a $100 bill and said to give it to them, even though they are in Lake County, Illinois and this driver has never even been there.

The movement among racers to help out continued at The Milwaukee Mile during a Midwest Enduro Stock Car Series event, at Lake Geneva Raceway during regular race programs, at the Lake Geneva Raceway Stadium Motocross and even from a Antioch businessman who is involved in racing offered a new suit for the father as he needed one for his sales job.

Not one of the people, from the young 4-year-old motocross riders to the 60-something weekend warriors has met this family and for most, they have not ever stepped foot in the town.

The amount contributed is not important. The money was all turned into gift cards that allowed the family what they needed to help get them back on the ground.

The autographs, picture cards, even die cast racecars; a lunch bag and racing t-shirt have not gone unused. The young man sits and looks at them for hours on end.

His favorite racecar number is 8, a number of many weekend warriors all the way up to NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. When asked if he knew whose number it was, he simply replied, “No, I just like that number.”

In a thank you note that this young boy drew and wrote himself, he said, “one day I want to be a race car driver.”

With not only the support of his own family and extended family, he has already experienced the victory lane celebration that an entire Midwestern racing community has given him. With that kind of support, he can be guaranteed to stand tall in victory lane some day.