By Leonna Heuring
MALDEN — Nathan Rettig, or “Kid Smooth” as his fans call him, may no longer be driving at the racetrack, but his memory will forever lap the minds of his fans and fellow racers.
This weekend’s first Nathan Rettig Memorial Cotton Boll Cup at the Malden Speedway is a way to make sure of it. Rettig died in April of injuries sustained in a four-wheeler accident near Miner. He was 13.
Originally named the Cotton Boll Cup three years ago, the Malden Speedway owners Bill and Connie Hampton and Phil and Judy Santie changed the race’s name this year as a way to keep Nathan’s name going, explained Bill Hampton.
And what better way to remember the Cotton Boll Cup’s first pure street winner than by naming the race after him?
“He was our points champion in the street stock when he was 11 years old,” Hampton recalled. “He had a tremendous talent. The kid was bound for stardom in stock car racing.” Hampton said the owners are very proud the Sikeston couple agreed to renaming the race in their son’s memory.
Nathan ran with the best of them, running on the dirt against big names like NASCAR driver Kenny Schrader, Hampton pointed out.
“Out of the car, he was just a fine young man and was still just a kid. It’s such a tragedy,” Hampton said about Nathan’s death.
Karen Rettig said her son’s dream since he was 5 years old was to drive a dirt late model. The Malden Speedway owners gave Nathan his first chance to fulfill that dream, and the Rettigs will be forever grateful to them, she said.
“I am at a loss for words at what this means to us — all the work and sponsorship to put this together, and it is in the memory of Nathan,” Mrs. Rettig said. “Keeping his memory alive is exactly what we want.”
Hampton said after receiving the go ahead from Nathan’s parents, plans got under way for the three-day race, which begins Thursday and ends Saturday. Thursday will consist of a practice night for anybody coming into the pit area, and there will also be a barbecue dinner. Heat races to determine the lineup for Saturday’s money races will be held Friday night, and on Saturday, the pit area opens at 2 p.m. with the grand stands opening at 3 p.m. Hot laps begin around 5:30 p.m.
Plans are also being finalized for a special tribute to Nathan during the event, noted Hampton.
Known as “Kid Smooth” by his fans at the Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway in Calvert City, Nathan began his racing career in 1996 at the Sikeston Race Park, when he was 5 years old, becoming points champion on the Junior Go-Kart class. He competed at age 7 in 1998 with the World Karting Association Junior One Class, when he won 17 features.
In 2001, he competed with the National Modified Midget Association and set four track records for qualifying at R-K Raceway, Southern Illinois Raceway, Cole County Raceway and Camden Raceway. Nathan was No. 1 in the nation with his junior sprint car. He later advanced in class to full-size Stock Car/Pure Street Class, and in his first race finished sixth in a field of 32 cars.
At 11, Nathan took nine checker flags at the Malden Speedway and was points champion. He went on to Benton, Dyersburg, Tenn., Milan, Tenn., and Harrisburg, Ark. After his father bought a late model car in 2002, Nathan began racing in the Limited Late Model Class, where he won the checker flag four times racing against the adult drivers. He finished first out of 17 cars at the Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway in Calvert City.
Although the Rettigs don’t go to as many races as they did prior to Nathan’s death, Allan Rettig said Saturday’s race is one his family will not miss.
“We still enjoy seeing all of the people,” Rettig said. “They’re our racing family.”
Currently seven states are already scheduled to be represented Saturday, and Malden Speedway is still taking entries until Thursday or Friday, Hampton said.
Last year, 160 cars entered the Cotton Boll Cup with the payout around the average of $11,000. This year, Hampton isn’t sure how many cars to expect and the purse will be an unprecedented $50,000.
The Rettigs said they’re grateful to everyone for their thoughts and prayers over the past six months.
“When God took Nathan home, it was the hardest thing we ever had to accept,” said Nathan’s mother. “There were many days I could not see the light at the end of the tunnel, but with the grace of God, we now know Nathan is in a far better place.
“He has no pain, suffering or tears. Nathan is eternally happy and what more could you want for your children.” Rettig recalled a saying someone recently reminded him: ‘Heroes die, but legends live forever, and Nathan Rettig is a legend.’
And that’s what it’s about, said Rettig, remembering Nathan and helping everyone keep his memory alive.
“You don’t ever want to forget your son, and you don’t want others to forget,” Nathan’s father said. “This race is helping remember him.”
For more information about the Nathan Rettig Cotton Boll Cup or about Rettig, visit www.maldenspeedway.com or www.nathanrettig.com.
MALDEN — Nathan Rettig, or “Kid Smooth” as his fans call him, may no longer be driving at the racetrack, but his memory will forever lap the minds of his fans and fellow racers.
This weekend’s first Nathan Rettig Memorial Cotton Boll Cup at the Malden Speedway is a way to make sure of it. Rettig died in April of injuries sustained in a four-wheeler accident near Miner. He was 13.
Originally named the Cotton Boll Cup three years ago, the Malden Speedway owners Bill and Connie Hampton and Phil and Judy Santie changed the race’s name this year as a way to keep Nathan’s name going, explained Bill Hampton.
And what better way to remember the Cotton Boll Cup’s first pure street winner than by naming the race after him?
“He was our points champion in the street stock when he was 11 years old,” Hampton recalled. “He had a tremendous talent. The kid was bound for stardom in stock car racing.” Hampton said the owners are very proud the Sikeston couple agreed to renaming the race in their son’s memory.
Nathan ran with the best of them, running on the dirt against big names like NASCAR driver Kenny Schrader, Hampton pointed out.
“Out of the car, he was just a fine young man and was still just a kid. It’s such a tragedy,” Hampton said about Nathan’s death.
Karen Rettig said her son’s dream since he was 5 years old was to drive a dirt late model. The Malden Speedway owners gave Nathan his first chance to fulfill that dream, and the Rettigs will be forever grateful to them, she said.
“I am at a loss for words at what this means to us — all the work and sponsorship to put this together, and it is in the memory of Nathan,” Mrs. Rettig said. “Keeping his memory alive is exactly what we want.”
Hampton said after receiving the go ahead from Nathan’s parents, plans got under way for the three-day race, which begins Thursday and ends Saturday. Thursday will consist of a practice night for anybody coming into the pit area, and there will also be a barbecue dinner. Heat races to determine the lineup for Saturday’s money races will be held Friday night, and on Saturday, the pit area opens at 2 p.m. with the grand stands opening at 3 p.m. Hot laps begin around 5:30 p.m.
Plans are also being finalized for a special tribute to Nathan during the event, noted Hampton.
Known as “Kid Smooth” by his fans at the Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway in Calvert City, Nathan began his racing career in 1996 at the Sikeston Race Park, when he was 5 years old, becoming points champion on the Junior Go-Kart class. He competed at age 7 in 1998 with the World Karting Association Junior One Class, when he won 17 features.
In 2001, he competed with the National Modified Midget Association and set four track records for qualifying at R-K Raceway, Southern Illinois Raceway, Cole County Raceway and Camden Raceway. Nathan was No. 1 in the nation with his junior sprint car. He later advanced in class to full-size Stock Car/Pure Street Class, and in his first race finished sixth in a field of 32 cars.
At 11, Nathan took nine checker flags at the Malden Speedway and was points champion. He went on to Benton, Dyersburg, Tenn., Milan, Tenn., and Harrisburg, Ark. After his father bought a late model car in 2002, Nathan began racing in the Limited Late Model Class, where he won the checker flag four times racing against the adult drivers. He finished first out of 17 cars at the Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway in Calvert City.
Although the Rettigs don’t go to as many races as they did prior to Nathan’s death, Allan Rettig said Saturday’s race is one his family will not miss.
“We still enjoy seeing all of the people,” Rettig said. “They’re our racing family.”
Currently seven states are already scheduled to be represented Saturday, and Malden Speedway is still taking entries until Thursday or Friday, Hampton said.
Last year, 160 cars entered the Cotton Boll Cup with the payout around the average of $11,000. This year, Hampton isn’t sure how many cars to expect and the purse will be an unprecedented $50,000.
The Rettigs said they’re grateful to everyone for their thoughts and prayers over the past six months.
“When God took Nathan home, it was the hardest thing we ever had to accept,” said Nathan’s mother. “There were many days I could not see the light at the end of the tunnel, but with the grace of God, we now know Nathan is in a far better place.
“He has no pain, suffering or tears. Nathan is eternally happy and what more could you want for your children.” Rettig recalled a saying someone recently reminded him: ‘Heroes die, but legends live forever, and Nathan Rettig is a legend.’
And that’s what it’s about, said Rettig, remembering Nathan and helping everyone keep his memory alive.
“You don’t ever want to forget your son, and you don’t want others to forget,” Nathan’s father said. “This race is helping remember him.”
For more information about the Nathan Rettig Cotton Boll Cup or about Rettig, visit www.maldenspeedway.com or www.nathanrettig.com.
