…Highland Speedway Benefit Event Helps Kick Off Madison County Fair Week
Highland, Illinois (July 19, 2012) With the heat of summertime in the St. Louis area comes the annual happenings of Fair Week for the residents of Madison County, Illinois and the surrounding area. Each year thousands of residents and visitors are treated to a weeklong schedule of family fun and entertainment in Highland as they flock to the Madison County Fairgrounds. A major portion of the week’s entertainment takes place when the sun sets and the action heats up at Highland Speedway, located on the fairgrounds property in town with various forms of racing, demolition derby and motorsports competition scheduled for each day (Tuesday-Sunday, July 24-29). But this year’s excitement leading up to the Fair Week roars into action early with the special ‘Leaps of Love’ benefit race scheduled for this Saturday night (July 21st).
‘Leaps of Love’ is a special non-profit Highland, IL organization that is dedicated to assisting families that have children stricken with brain tumors and late-effects of childhood cancer. On Saturday at Highland Speedway there will be many of the families that ‘Leaps of Love’ help. These families and their ill children have never been able to attend a racing event and this week provides a chance for the kids and their loved ones to come out and feel the support that the racing community willingly offers to help support their cause. The therapy gained by these children to be at such an exciting event and meet the racers provides an uplifting experience. ‘Leaps of Love’ encourages everyone in the area to come out and support this great cause and make a difference in the lives of these children and their families. The activities to help broaden the awareness of the needs of these children and to make a difference will being on Saturday afternoon, with games and fund-raising activities at Highland Speedway.
As part of the event raffle tickets for an actual racecar are being sold as part of a season-long fund raiser for ‘Leaps of Love’. The racecar is a full bodied race ready dirt late model, complete with engine and all components necessary for competition; the raffle winner will be drawn later this season with the winning ticket-holder having the choice of receiving either the racecar or $10,000.00. In addition to the racecar raffle, a 50/50 drawing and other prizes will be offered on Saturday night with all proceeds of the sales going directly toward ‘Leaps of Love’ and their mission. For more information about this event and the opportunity to help these families visit www.leapsoflove.org or contact Traci Riechmann via email at traci@leapsoflove.org or by calling (618) 410-7212.
Grandstand gates open on Saturday evening at 5 pm with the Pit Gates open at 3 pm and racing scheduled to take the green flag at 6 pm. General Admission Grandstand seating is $15.00 for adults with special Box Seats available for $20.00 for adults (Kids 10 and under are admitted Free into the Grandstand area when accompanied by a paying adult). Highland Speedway is located at 2020 Park Street, Highland, IL 62249. This Saturday night’s racing program features a full night with five divisions of exciting high-speed drama with Late Models, Open Wheel Modifieds, Bombers, Hornets and the SportMods all in action. Highland Speedway has provided a long line of historic racing events for over 50 years and will be a busy hub of excitement during each day of the Madison County Fair. Complete racing event and competitor information is available online at www.highlandspeedway.com
Saturday night’s special racing event helps kick off the weeklong Madison County Fair which offers a full week of daytime and night time fun for all ages. Carnival rides, 4-H Livestock competition and exhibits, beauty pagents, bingo, dances, nightly concerts and live musical entertainment and a wide variety of activities for young and old alike as well as a mega selection of fair food and beverages throughout the week will be featured each day of the Madison County Fair. The complete fair event schedule for Tuesday July 24th through Sunday July 29th is listed at the official web site of the Madison County Fair on the internet at www.madcofair.com.
Each evening of the Fair Week will highlight different forms of motorsports action at Highland Speedway:
Sat (July 21) ‘Leaps of Love’ Benefit Race
Tues (July 24) ITPA Tractor-Truck Pull 6:30 pm
Wed (July 25) Midwest Open Wheel Association (MOWA) Sprint Car Races 6:30 pm
Thurs (July 26) Agriculture Combine DEMOLITION DERBY 7:30 pm
Fri (July 27) Automobile DEMOLITION DERBY 7:00 pm
Sat (Jul 28) Madison County Fair Stock Car Racing Extravaganza 6:30 pm featuring the UMP Challenge of the Champions with
Sun (Jul 29) Lawn Mower Racing with KidzModifieds and Vintage Race Cars 2:00 pm