Jeff Gordon’s Quiet Healing Impact on 9/11 Children
[media-credit id=18 align=”alignright” width=”223″]
[/media-credit]Ten years ago this race weekend, terrorists attacked the United States resulting in loss of life at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and on Flight 93 that went down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
For thousands of families, their fathers or mothers or sisters or brothers never came home that day. But for the children who lost their parents, September 11th took away the most important people in their lives.
Because of the magnitude of loss in New Jersey, a family serving agency began a therapeutic healing arts program to help children in their community who had lost their parents in the terrorist attacks.
And in one particular healing arts group, primarily comprised of boys, it was soon determined that another bond outside of 9/11 bound them together, their lost fathers’ love of NASCAR racing.
It was also discovered that the dads who had been killed in the Twin Towers all fancied one particular driver, four-time champion Jeff Gordon, as their favorite NASCAR driver.
With this information and the connection established, the healing art professionals decided that one of their healing projects would be to have the young boys build pine wood derby race cars in memory of their dads and to honor their love of racing.
The group worked diligently on their race cars, crafting them and decorating them, many with the No. 24 displayed prominently, as well as plenty of Gordon-like flames. And as they worked, the boys wondered if there might be any way that they could share their projects with their favorite driver, or better yet, get his autograph on their race cars.
Gordon’s Foundation, then the Jeff Gordon Foundation, was contacted and agreed that they would do their best to get the race cars autographed, turning them around quickly before the first set of holidays that the children would endure without their fathers. The boys packed up their newly-built race cars, with a few notes to share their meaning, and mailed them off to the Jeff Gordon Foundation offices.
In just a few weeks, a package arrived for the group. It was filled not only with races cars bearing Jeff Gordon’s autograph, but also notes to the children and other memorabilia from the NASCAR champion.
Gordon’s healing impact on this particular group of children devastated by September 11th, 2001 was palpable. They raced their autographed pine wood derby cars in their fathers’ memories and enjoyed them as special mementos and memories throughout the holiday season.
“I don’t think there is anybody in this country that will ever forget where they were and what that experience was like on 9/11,” Gordon said. “Just remembering the devastation and those that were lost, especially as much time as I spend in NYC, having a greater appreciation of the impact that it has had.”
“I sat there I shock like so many others did that day.”
As the days, weeks and months passed, the children grew and learned and healed. And they began to think of some way that they could repay the kindness of one NASCAR driver.
When they learned that Gordon and his wife Ingrid Vandebosch became parents themselves, they crafted a special memory box for Gordon’s daughter Ella Sofia. It was presented to the champion at one of his appearances in New York City.
“Now our world that we live in takes on a whole new responsibility in meaning and pride,” Gordon said. “We want to show how strong we truly are and how this experience has not only made us come together and be a tighter and stronger group and to go out there and show the rest of the world why we’re proud to be Americans.”
This year, on the tenth anniversary of this tragedy that shook the country, Jeff Gordon will be racing his No. 24 Drive to End Hunger/Chase Card Services Chevrolet at Richmond International Raceway. Gordon has already secured his place in the Chase and also in history, with his 85th career win in the sport last weekend at Atlanta.
But there is no doubt that a group of now young men will be carefully watching as the four-time champion takes to the track for the 400 laps of Richmond racing. And they may just have their own special race cars by their sides, remembering the quiet healing impact of one NASCAR driver.
NASCAR ‘Never Forgets’ by Honoring the Tenth Anniversary of 9/11 at Richmond International Raceway
As NASCAR’s last race of the “regular season” draws near, we can’t help but to be cognizant of the fact that Richmond’s September race always falls on or near the anniversary of 9/11. We will never forget that horrific day in 2001, just three days after Ricky Rudd claimed victory in the Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 at Richmond International Raceway (RIR), when terrorists systematically attacked our great nation and life as we knew it would change forever.
In the eight races that have run in the Fall since the attack I’ve seen some pretty amazing tributes at the track. RIR has always made a it a point to honor that day, the men and women who were lost, their families who were left behind, the brave Military who fight for our freedom and all First Responders who do the unthinkable each and every day by running into danger while everyone else is running out.
This year as we remember the tenth anniversary, RIR will honor America with what will no doubt be an extremely emotional ceremony. Hundreds of volunteers will be on hand to pass out American flags to all race attendees as they pass through the gates, collect donations for “NASCAR Unites”, part of the 9/11 “I Will” campaign and assist with the distribution and collection of post card messages for First Responders nationwide.
During the pre-race ceremonies, fans will stand in unison with Wounded Warriors, US Army Specialist Brendan Marrocco and Marine Corps Corporal Todd Nicely; who were the first and second Americans to lose all four limbs in combat and survive, as they recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Danny Rodriguez, who has become know as the “singing policeman from New York City” will sing God Bless America and the U.S. Army’s 29th Infantry Division Band from Ft. Belvoir, will perform the National Anthem. Fans are encouraged to wave their flags to show their respect and patriotism during the entire pre-race, as well as during the special moment of silence between laps nine and 11.
“Richmond International Raceway is unique in that every year since the 9/11 attacks our September race weekend has fallen on the weekend closest to 9/11,” commented Richmond International Raceway President Dennis Bickmeier. “It has always been important to us to recognize 9/11 and remember the victims and survivors, but even more so this weekend as we remember the 10th anniversary of 9/11. We are proud of our military and first responders; active, former and retired, and we are honored to have so many join us this weekend. I think our fans will find that this will be the most patriotic pre-race ceremony they have ever been a part of at Richmond International Raceway.”
During driver introductions, each of the Sprint Cup racers will cross the stage and exit into a tunnel of First Responders from Virginia. Each driver will then be partnered with a member of the “Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans for America” in a Chevrolet Silverado for a lap around the track, each carrying an American flag.
Virginia’s Henrico County Fire Department will display a large American flag from their ladder truck on the apron of the frontstretch, while the Charlottesville Fire Department ladder truck will be on display on the backstretch of the track. Five color guards will present our nations’ flags; Ft. Lee Army will be positioned on the pre-race pad, Central Virginia Combo Fire Team in Turn One, Virginia State Police in Turn Two, Newport News Police in Turn Three and the Naval Ocean Processing Facility in Turn Four.
To culminate the events and recognize the anniversary, fans at the track, television and radio broadcasters and the track announcer will go quiet for a moment of silence between laps nine through 11 to pause and remember the events that unfolded on Sept. 11, 2001.
“NASCAR takes great pride in the patriotism that the sport showcases every race weekend, and the 10th anniversary of 9/11 is a special opportunity for NASCAR to unite and recognize those we lost and honor those who responded with courage,” NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said. “Bringing together the various 9/11 tributes with the NASCAR Unites platform collectively demonstrates the giving nature of NASCAR fans and those who work in our sport.”
Join the 9/11 tribute movement at to view gratitude and remembrance by drivers, crews, sponsors, tracks and fans as they honor the tenth year anniversary of 9/11 or to create your own accolade by thanking a First Responder for their service and dedication by sending an online post card.
Never Forget.
NASCAR’s Last Race Before the Chase: Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting at Richmond International Raceway
This weekend Richmond International Raceway will play host once again to the “Last Race Before the Chase.” Since the introduction of “The Chase for the Sprint Cup” in 2004, Richmond’s September night race has served as the “regular season’s” finale.
[media-credit name=”Barry Albert” align=”alignright” width=”221″]
[/media-credit]It generally proves to be one heck of a show as the drivers vie for one of the top-10 coveted Chase spots and/or two of the “Wild Card” positions that will ultimately make up the top-12 who will go on to compete in the season’s 10 race showdown that ultimately determines who the 2011 Sprint Cup champ will be.
Heading into Richmond, nine drivers have already secured their place in the Chase. Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman and Brad Keselowski, who currently hold ones of the two Wild Card positions. While technically, any driver currently sitting 23rd or better has a chance at one of the remaining three Chase spots, all eyes are focused on a handful of drivers who are expected to get the job done.
As the points stand now heading into the weekend, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin are the favorites to secure those last coveted positions, but fans know that in NASCAR anything can and will happen, nothing is guaranteed. In order to process it all one must turn to higher math and perhaps a perfect alignment of all the planets to get it a full understanding of just how things could turn out.
With three victories under his belt, Keselowski has clinched himself a safe haven in one of the two Wild Card positions, but depending on his finish in Richmond is still eligible for a Top-10 spot, potentially knocking Earnhardt Jr. and Stewart out of one of the ninth and 10th spots in which they currently sit.
In order to clinch his spot in the Chase, regardless of how any other driver finishes, Earnhardt Jr., who has failed to make the Chase since 2008, must secure a 20th place finish or better, 21st or better and leads at least one lap or 22nd or better and leads the most laps. Regardless of any other driver’s finish, Stewart will clinch his spot by finishing 18th or better, 19th or betting leading one lap and 20th or better leading the most laps.
Got that? Good! It gets a little trickier from here.
Hamlin can seize his Wild Card spot by winning the race on Saturday night. Paul Menard could potentially take that Wild Card should he win the race. Other hopefuls include Marcos Ambrose and David Ragan, who are also eligible for the Wild Card, but each of them would need to take their car to victory AND advance their point standings into the Top-20.
The best of the rest would require a win, a position in the Top-20 and a variety of scenarios and various finishes from the other drivers in order to earn their place in the Chase.
The Chase can be a tough nut to crack, but just as the race, aptly named the “Wonderful Pistachios 400,” will prove in the end; once the tough outer shell has been cracked, the delicious goodness inside makes the fight for the checkered flag that much more worthwhile.
So who’s it going to be? After a two year hiatus, will Earnhardt Jr.’s performance prove worthy of a Chase spot, will Stewart channel that old school intensity that we know and love to hang on to 10th place and will Hamlin, Richmond’s favorite son, kick it into high gear to bring home a win at his hometown track for the third year in a row?
Only time will tell, so have at it boys, Saturday night’s alright for fighting, so get a little action in and give the fans a night to remember!
