MADISON, Ill. - Collinsville, Ill., firefighter Dusty Katich earned the victory Tuesday night at Gateway International Raceway's Second Annual Guns N' Hoses Challenge. The event pits firefighters versus police officers in their personal street vehicles on Gateway's dragstrip The former GIR motorcycle champion topped fellow fireman Jake Ziegler of St. Peters, Mo., for the Mayor John Hamm III Trophy, named for the mayor of Madison, an invaluable friend and ally to the facility and to area first responders.
Katich made a pass of 13.478 down GIR's NHRA-sanctioned quarter-mile track in his 2000 Trans Am to beat Ziegler and his 2007 Dodge Charger in the bracket-racing event. Last year's inaugural event was won by Pine Lawn, Mo., police officer Bob Sampson, who lost to Ziegler in the first round. The win gives bragging rights to the hose brigade for an entire year.
"It's pretty cool knowing that I won and that I won for the fire department," said Katich, a lieutenant and ten-year department vet. "It's fun to beat the policemen, as much as they give us (a hard time)."
It was ironic that Sampson lost in the first round this year as the defending winner since Katich, the newly-crowned champion, lost in the opening pass in 2007. "A guy beat me, he just had a really good pass, so there was really not a lot I could do. I knew if I came back and did what I normally can do, I could go pretty far in the field and I did and I won it."
In addition to winning the trophy, a donation of $500 will be made in Katich's name to BackStoppers, an organization that provides money and assistance to the families of fallen police and firefighters. Brian McKenna of 590 the Fan (KFNS) in St. Louis, a strong supporter of the organization, served as the event's grand marshal and said the event was a great platform to promote the friendly rivalry between area firemen and the boys in blue.
"I am just totally stoked," said McKenna, who can be heard every morning with Joe DeNiro on 590 the Fan. "I'm a huge fan of the boxing match, I go to the Guns N' Hoses hockey game...I'm telling you, this is just as good as both of those events. It's just so cool to see all these true heroes competing. We had a great crowd. I want to thank Lenny Batycki and the mayor for having me out there. This was awesome!"
Like Sampson last year, Katich plans to defend his title and couldn't help taking a friendly shot at 2007's winner.
"I'm going to do a better job; I'm going to win it next year!"
For more information on the events at Gateway International Raceway, visit GatewayRaceway.com. To find out more about BackStoppers or to donate, please visit BackStoppers.org.
Katich made a pass of 13.478 down GIR's NHRA-sanctioned quarter-mile track in his 2000 Trans Am to beat Ziegler and his 2007 Dodge Charger in the bracket-racing event. Last year's inaugural event was won by Pine Lawn, Mo., police officer Bob Sampson, who lost to Ziegler in the first round. The win gives bragging rights to the hose brigade for an entire year.
"It's pretty cool knowing that I won and that I won for the fire department," said Katich, a lieutenant and ten-year department vet. "It's fun to beat the policemen, as much as they give us (a hard time)."
It was ironic that Sampson lost in the first round this year as the defending winner since Katich, the newly-crowned champion, lost in the opening pass in 2007. "A guy beat me, he just had a really good pass, so there was really not a lot I could do. I knew if I came back and did what I normally can do, I could go pretty far in the field and I did and I won it."
In addition to winning the trophy, a donation of $500 will be made in Katich's name to BackStoppers, an organization that provides money and assistance to the families of fallen police and firefighters. Brian McKenna of 590 the Fan (KFNS) in St. Louis, a strong supporter of the organization, served as the event's grand marshal and said the event was a great platform to promote the friendly rivalry between area firemen and the boys in blue.
"I am just totally stoked," said McKenna, who can be heard every morning with Joe DeNiro on 590 the Fan. "I'm a huge fan of the boxing match, I go to the Guns N' Hoses hockey game...I'm telling you, this is just as good as both of those events. It's just so cool to see all these true heroes competing. We had a great crowd. I want to thank Lenny Batycki and the mayor for having me out there. This was awesome!"
Like Sampson last year, Katich plans to defend his title and couldn't help taking a friendly shot at 2007's winner.
"I'm going to do a better job; I'm going to win it next year!"
For more information on the events at Gateway International Raceway, visit GatewayRaceway.com. To find out more about BackStoppers or to donate, please visit BackStoppers.org.
