Racin’ for Rian this Saturday at I-35 Speedway

  • June 17, 2015
  • by Rick Staley

WINSTON, Mo.—Racin’ for Rian is this Saturday, June 20, at I-35 Speedway. This event continues to grow each year. Sponsors jump on board and add money, this year the winner of the USRA Modifieds will take home $1,500, the USRA B-Mod and USRA Stock Car winner will take home $1,000 each. This will be a great night of racing, but let’s understand how we got here.

In 2010, Bud and Amanda Wilson lost baby Rian, who was born 4 months early. They had her for a total of 30 hours. What they did not realize was Saint Luke’s hospital had a family fund. This fund, controlled by the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) provided a package of their lost daughter. Instead of bringing home a baby they brought home a package which included a lock of her hair, pictures of her in a dress which are donated by one of the nurses, and other items. This touched their hearts to the point they went to I-35 Speedway owners, Mike and Kyle Johnson, and asked to create a race in honor of their daughter. That race is Racin’ for Rian.

The Wilsons have collected and donated over $9,000 to the Saint Luke’s NICU family fund in the last three years. They gain this money through sponsorships, through t-shirts sales, and through the drivers doing a collection in the grandstands. The first three years they were dependent on family, the first two years the purse was increased for the USRA Modifieds only, last year additions were made to the USRA B-Mod and USRA Stock Car purse.

Here is the list of winners of this bonus money: USRA Modifieds, 2012 and 2013 Ritchie Gustin, 2014 it was Kerry Davis, USRA B-Mod winner in 2014 Chad Clancy, USRA Stock Car winner in 2014 Thomas Roberts. Who will take home the winnings in 2015? Who will come and support this event of racers giving back to the community?

I-35 Speedway is located at exit 64 off Interstate 35. Make plans now to assist the racing community in supporting our local community. Gates open at 4:00 P.M., hot laps at 6:15 P.M., and racing begins at 7:00 P.M. Adults are $12, Seniors (62 and over) $10, Children 7 to 12 are $6 and younger than 7 are free.