DACONO - On Saturday October 22, 2011, Colorado National Speedway had their last race of the season. The top five drivers in points elected to start a 50 lap, 20 car A Main Race at the rear of the Sportsman field and close out Susan G. Komen Foundation, Race for the Cure.
Eric "Blackie" Blackard started his Race for the Cure a day before the run and walk here in Colorado for the Susan G. Komen foundation only he did it in his race car. The Race for the Cure was then handed over to Racin Jason Morris the following race weekend and for the last race of the season, four more drivers joined Blackard. Bruce Borchardt's No. 84, Tommy Roe's No. 6, Lee Kemmit's No. 98 and Jeff Walbaum's No. 8 all showed support for breast cancer. Each driver then had sponsors, friends and fans making donations and pledges on their behalf. Dalton Hewitt, this year's Sportsman Rookie also displayed of pink on his No. 9.
Pink was definitely the color of choice in the Sportsman division with ribbons, stripes and pink lettered Hoosier race tires. Pink was also in the stands. Wives and friends of Blackard Racing and Jason Morris, accompanied by breast cancer survivor Cheryl Bower distributed donated candy and pink glow lights for donations for put in pink buckets.
Starting positions for the top five Sportsman drivers were determined by a number draw. The draw had Walbaum in his No. 8 and the No 98 of Kemmit starting beside him, then Borchardt in the No 84, Blackard and the No.46 with Roe and the No. 6 in last place. The No 43 of Stan Griffin and Dalton Hewitt's No. 9 lead the Sportsman field off on the most exciting A Main Race CNS has had in many years. The Race for the Cure drivers moved switftly through the cars.
Lee Kemmit cut a tire down and as he limped into the pits, a yellow flag came out for a spin. On the line up for a restart, it was Griffin still in the lead with Walbaum and Tommy Roe, who started last, only a couple cars behind him. Also a quick tire change on Kemmit's No. 98 enabled him to take the green flag on the lead lap.
On lap 21, Walbaum took over the lead with Roe on his bumper, Borchardt, Blackard a few positions behind them and Kemmit closing. By Lap 40, the Race for the Cure cars were all in the top-5.
In the last laps, Walbaum fought off challenge after challenge from a hard charging Kemmit and held on to win the CNS Race of Champions and his Race for the Cure.
In honor of Jennie Williams, a Cancer victim and member of the Walbaum team, the No. 8 carried her name with them all year.
The remaining finishing order, now known as the Fab Five had Tommy Roe, Bruce Borchardt and Eric Blackard all close behind.
The Hoods from Racin Jason No. 13 Super Stock and Eric Blackard's Sportsman No. 46 were raffled off as another way to raise money for Susan G. Komen Foundation. The No.13 hood was won by Cindi Kibel, while the winner of No. 46 hood asked to remain anonymous and donated the hood to CNS to remain on display in memory of Cancer victims and survivors.
Money collected from the hood raffle, donations and pledges for the three nights is well over $3,000.00, with more donations on the way.
A very special Thanks has to go to Colorado National Speedway's Directors of Operation Jim Nordougen and Scott Backman along with the staff, all the Racers and team members, all the supporting sponsors who made pledges and donations and race fans.
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