Kahne will be honored
Published 12:05 pm Thursday, December 11, 2008
By Brenda Sexton
The Courier-Herald
Enumclaw NASCAR rising star Kasey Kahne will make a pit stop in his hometown to accept the key to the city and a few other accolades during the city's Kasey Kahne Day.
The event, jam packed with a day's worth of fun activities, is set for Sept. 5. Kahne will be fresh off a Sept. 4 NASCAR Nextel Cup performance in Fontana, Calif.
Kahne's mom, Tammy, who has been in on the ground floor of organizing the event, is excited - and, she reports, so is her busy son.
The city of Enumclaw, the Enumclaw Area Chamber of Commerce and Allstate Insurance are co-sponsoring the celebration.
The day's festivities kick off with a run. The city of Enumclaw Parks and Recreation Department will host a 5K and 9K (get it? Kahne drives the No. 9 car in the Nextel Cup series) Labor Day Fun Run.
Pre-registration is $15, with on-site registration $20. Registration and check-in takes place at Topping Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge on state Route 410. Race divisions are: high school teams 5K: 9:30 a.m., male and female; 9K masters 9:45 a.m., male and female; and a 9K and 5K open run beginning at 10 a.m. for both male and female runners.
All divisions will have awards for first, second and third place. Team trophies will be awarded for the high school 5K. All runners will receive T-shirts.
There is a free dash down Cole Street for children under 12.
For information, or to register, call 360-802-0233. All proceeds will benefit the Enumclaw High School cross country team and the Enumclaw Youth Center.
During that time there are also plenty of other activities. Organizers are planning a classic car show (with one of Kahne's No. 9 cars on display) and a display of radio-controlled racing cars that reach speeds of up to 60 mph. Younger fans will have the opportunity to receive a T-shirt (while supplies last) for coloring a No. 9 car that is available at the Kahne store. Kahne's Juniors will also be on site. These are 125 cc mini sprint cars Kahne sponsors. Their 9- to 11-year-old drivers are scheduled to make an appearance.
At noon, Kahne is scheduled to accept the city's honors, present a lucky Enumclaw High automotive student with a $1,000 scholarship check from Bev Olson of Enumclaw's Allstate Insurance Company and answer a few questions from the crowd.
The autograph session will be open to individuals who obtained bracelets prior to the event. Bracelets are available from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Kasey Kahne Store at the Topping dealership. They will also be available as giveway items by radio stations KMPS and KJR.
Organizers would like to collect a $2 donation for each bracelet with all proceeds going to the recently-established Kasey Kahne Foundation. The foundation raises and donates funds to special charitable organizations including those that care for chronically ill children and their families. The fund will give special focus to the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte, N.C.
Due to Kahne's close ties to Washington state and North Carolina, community projects in these areas will be given greater preference. Other charities outlined for focus also include Racing for a Reason, Diversity Awareness in partnership with the Charlotte Bobcats and Carolina Panthers, Kasey Junior's, Deming (Wash.) Speedway, The Make-A-Wish Foundation, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Victory Junction Gang Camp.
The autograph signing is scheduled for approximately 3 p.m. Sept. 5 at the Kasey Kahne Store.
