It seems fitting that the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series arrives in the East for high-profile shows, and Kolten Gouse Promotions puts the finishing touches on the biggest fundraiser of the season.
The two go hand and hand.
Gouse and his promotional team will hold the R & R Enterprises National Open Benefit presented by Butlerbuilt at Williams Grove Speedway October 5 from 11 a.m. To 3 p.m. The event will be run in conjunction with the $50,000-to-win Morgan Hughes National Open.
R & R Enterprises, a t-shirt business that makes merchandise for the the St. Louis Cardinals and Sprint Car drivers Joey Saldana, Tim Kaeding, Rico Abreau and Kyle Larson, has been involved in the charity since its inception. The company, along with Butlerbuilt, recently stepped up as title sponsors.
“R & R Enterprises is proud to be a supporter of the National Open Injured Driver’s Benevolent Fund,” said R & R Marketing Director. “It is an honor to be associated with such an excellent cause that does so much for racers and their families.”
Proceeds from this extravaganza will go to the York County Racing Club Injured Driver’s Fund, the World of Outlaws Benevolent Fund and the newest beneficiary, the Steve King Foundation, which is based out of Jetmore, Kan.
“I’m really glad R & R Enterprises and Butlerbuilt seats got behind this event and are involved in making this charity grow,” Gouse said.
“Neil Quick and everyone at R & R Enterprises have been a huge supporter from Day 1 and stepping up as a title sponsor this year shows there commitment to this sport.”
The charity event begins at 11 a.m. with a chicken bar-b-que that will serve 400 people. Cost is $8 per person. The auction begins at 1 p.m., with a 2:30 autograph session with World of Outlaws drivers.
Lisa and Vince Magaro started the National Open Benefit in 2008 shortly after Sprint Car driver John Westbrook was involved in a vicious crash at Williams Grove Speedway. The proceeds went to help Westbrook and his family with medical expenses.
The event has grown ever since. Gouse, a Mechanicsburg native and crew member for Kasey Kahne Racing, signed on as a co-promoter in 2011. The Magaro’s have taken a step back from the project and have handed the reins of this year’s event to Kolten Gouse Promotions.
Last year’s National Open Benefit raised a record $16,000. This year’s highly anticipated event is expected to be bigger.
“We are honored to continue the event that Lisa and Vince Magaro started in an effort to provide hope and encouragement to any present racecar driver and future racecar driver of our sport,” Gouse said.
The Steve King Foundation was established after the death of Steve King, who lost his life to a brain injury sustained during Wednesday’s qualifying night of the 2006 Knoxville Nationals.
The Steve King Foundation’s primary purpose is to assist drivers, pit crew members, officials and track operation personnel who are involved in dirt-track racing and are seriously ill, injured or killed. The foundation also assists dirt-track organizations and facilities with obtaining and maintaining safety equipment or implementing safety measures to enhance and improve dirt-track racing.
The York County Racing Club created its Injured Driver’s Fund to help any member driver that suffers an injury and loss of income while racing. Much of the club’s time is devoted to the various fundraisers needed to help injured drivers.
The World of Outlaws Benevolent Fund was started three years ago by legendary car owners Jack Elden and Beverly and Casey Luna, along with Amy Swindell and Dana Kinser.
It’s a non-profit organization that helps drivers that currently run the circuit and previous drivers that have raced with the series. The fund has helped numerous drivers over the years that have sustained serious injuries that have prevented them from racing.
More information on the National Open Injured Driver’s Benefit will be released later this season as it becomes available.
Kolten Gouse Promotions
3950 Mountain View Road
Mechanicsburg PA 17055
(717)-275-6827 or koltengouseracing@yahoo.com