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[/media-credit]In just a couple weeks time the Zippy’s Crusade for Kids Annual Charity Snowmobile Ride will take place in Inlet N.Y. With over a foot of new snow in the area things are looking up for great riding conditions. Former NASCAR Sprint Cup crew chief Greg Zippadelli and his wife Nan are working hard to make this year’s ride one of the best. “This is our sixth year of doing the ride,” Greg said when asked how long the ride has been happening. This year’s event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday January 27 & 28. The Zippadeli’s said in a statement, “The 2011 Zippy’s Crusade For Kids event allowed us to donate much needed funds to some great organizations and families, including the Shriners Hospitals for Children, the National Transplant Assistance fund, Motor Racing Outreach and the Children’s Homes of Iredell County.”
The fun part for participants in the event is the extensive list of celebrities that will be participating and the activities already planned. On Friday there’s a meet and greet, mingling and reception on tap. Saturday there’s breakfast (or brunch), then the actual snowmobile ride itself. The plan is for a snowmobile ride broken into groups for everyone that wants to ride sleds in the scenic Adirondack Mountains. As far as personalities there’s the Zippadelli’s (both Greg and his wife Nan will be there), plus Greg’s younger brother Scott, who was the crew chief for Kenny Wallace in 2011. There’s also Tony Stewart, the 2011 Sprint Cup champion who will be participating as well as his new crew chief Steve Addington and members of the No. 14 Stewart-Hass Sprint Cup car team. Donny Schatz, driver of Tony Stewart Racing’s sprint car team will also be there.
The emcees are also some pretty well known people from the NASCAR world and include, Steve Post from MRN radio, Wendy Venturinni from SPEED TV (and a Better Half Racer) and Matt Yokum. All of these personalities have been involved in the Crusade for some time now.
“Zippy’s Crusade for Kids is first and foremost a great cause because of all the lives they have touched with the money raised,” The Postman, Steve Post said. He also noted just how much fun it was to participate saying, “Beyond that it’s just a great time.”
Post makes no bones about how he feels about this event. He said, “I have made friendships that will last a lifetime at this event, people who have a hobby of snowmobiling are just good people, who love their riding and love having a good time around it. The people in that region absolutely roll out the red carpet and make us feel right at home while there.”
Post said, “One of the things that amazes me is the way the schedule plays out, race fans will get to spend a lot of time with Tony Stewart, Greg Zipadelli, Steve Addington, Donny Schatz, Matt Yocum and the other crew guys that participate in the ride.” Post concluded by saying, “This is the one ‘must do’ event on my calendar each year and I can’t wait to get up there for some more fun.”
How did the Zippadelli’s decide that the event should be held in Old Forge N.Y. area? Greg said, “The reason why I do it there is I used to spend a lot of time up there as a younger guy with Mike McLaughlin.” McLaughlin, the former NASCAR Nationwide Series driver and Zippadelli worked together when McLaughlin drove a modified that Zippadelli was a crew member of. “I met my wife there,” he continued. “It’s a great area. We still have a lot of ties in the area. We made a lot of friends there. They help and support us with everything they got. In fact, without them we couldn’t get it done. We really call on a lot of our friends up there to help us get this done and they work their guts out getting it done.”
About the event Zippadelli said, “It’s a two day event for sponsors and ticket holders. Friday night is a closed deal, you’ll be able to mingle and hang out with everyone. It’s a real up close and personal experience. You’ll be able to interact with everyone there. We do that on purpose and it’s a reason that people have been coming all six years that we’ve been doing this. I wish you could speak to the folks that go.”
Zippadelli was recently named the competition director of Stewart-Haas Racing a position that wasn’t filled during the past season after they released Bobby Hutchens. Zippadelli and Stewart won two Sprint Cup championships when Zippadelli was Stewart’s crew chief at Joe Gibbs Racing.
Zippadelli said, “The way I looked at this it’s a great opportunity with a great organization. Tony took a big chance with what he did (leaving Joe Gibbs Racing and starting his own team) and it worked for him by making his move.” Zippadelli looked at the move as a great opportunity, “For me, it was time to make a change. Right now I am getting used to everything as we’re real busy getting ready for the test in Daytona in a few weeks. It’s a great way me for to start working with these guys.”
For more information about the event, attendees and the schedule go to www. crusadeforkids.com
