Friday, November 21, 2008
The charitable organization of two-time Allstate 400 at the Brickyard winner Tony Stewart has awarded a $20,000 grant to Indianapolis-based Friends of Ferdinand, Inc. (FFI), a not-for-profit volunteer organization that works with owners and trainers at the state’s two horse tracks to identify and obtain thoroughbreds that are nearing the end of their racing careers.
Funds provided by the Tony Stewart Foundation will help FFI evaluate and retrain the horses, and find new, forever homes with devoted, caring owners.
More than 200 horses have been transitioned from the track into new careers as show horses, dressage competitors, pleasure and trail riders, equine therapeutic program partners, pasture mates and beloved companions.
Several thoroughbreds, the first horses to be christened “Tony’s Ex-Racers,” were brought into the FFI program Nov. 17 during the annual end-of-season paddock sale at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson, Ind. Representatives of both Friends of Ferdinand and the Tony Stewart Foundation were on hand to take a look at available horses and select those destined to become “Tony’s Ex-Racers.”
“We are thrilled beyond words that the Tony Stewart Foundation has selected our program to receive its support,” said Friends of Ferdinand President Sara Busbice. “A grant this size is significant and enables us not only to continue but to expand the work we do with our Indiana thoroughbreds. Especially now, with the economy in such turmoil, support of this magnitude is simply incredible.”
A total of 10 horses will be brought into the program as “Tony’s Ex-Racers” – those obtained from the Hoosier Park paddock sale, and two or three others already in line to come off the track and into FFI’s care.
The organization is named in memory of the magnificent Ferdinand, the 1986 Kentucky Derby Champion, Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and 1987 Horse of the Year who earned more than $4 million during his career. In 1989 he was retired from racing and exported to Japan to stand at stud. Impossibly, a few years later, Ferdinand was slaughtered for human consumption.
Founded in 2003 by two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart, the principal purposes of the Tony Stewart Foundation are to raise and donate funds to help care for chronically ill children, drivers injured in motorsports activities and to support other charitable organizations in the protection of various animal species.
Nov 24, 2008 | | Charity, NASCAR
Last Friday my mom and I attended a very special memorial service at Central State Hospital in Pineville, LA. Central is a hospital for the mentally ill. It no longer has the number of patients that it once did and most of the buildings are being used by other state agencies, but there are still people living there.
Back in the 80’s Mr. Ray Moreau was walking through an overgrown patch of land on the grounds looking for a place to put a vegetable garden when one of the patients said, “We’re walking in the cemetery”. Mr. Moreau did some checking and found out, yes it was a cemetery. There are over 2000 patients buried there. Some didn’t have a family and some families didn’t have the money to have the patients brought back home. Sadly, some were just thrown away because of their illness. Back then there was a stigma about the mentally ill. It was something to be ashamed of and not spoken of outside the family. So these people were buried with no markers, only a concrete slab over their grave and under the surface bearing their patient number. It is my understanding that a fire destroyed many of the records.
Since finding the cemetery, Mr. Moreau has worked to improve the situation. The land has been cleared and a beautiful monument has been place at the site. It is now a well kept peaceful place and considered sacred ground. Mr. Moreau and his wife, “Lady” had been instrumental in bringing about the memorial service. Not many people attend but each year the number grows. They have also given the families the opportunity to place a marker at the site for their family member. You are not able to place it on the actual grave yet but hopefully that will happen soon. The goal is to have a marker on every grave in the cemetery.
The Moreau’s and many others, I am sorry I don’t know their names, have worked very hard to bring all this about. They should be commended for their generous work. I will continue to write about the cemetery and the progress that is being made. I hope to get someone to write a short history about all that has taken place over the years.
Nov 11, 2008 | | General
I just wanted to get the day over with and go down to Smokey’s. Sneaking a look at my watch, I saw the time, 1655. Five minutes to go before the cemetery gates are closed for the day. Full dress was hot in the August sun. Oklahoma summertime was as bad as ever–the heat and humidity at the same level–both too high.
I saw the car pull into the drive, ‘69 or ‘70 model Cadillac Deville, looked factory-new. It pulled into the parking lot at a snail’s pace. An old woman got out so slow I thought she was paralyzed; she had a cane and a sheaf of flowers–about four or five bunches as best I could tell.
I couldn’t help myself. The thought came unwanted, and left a slightly bitter taste: ’She’s going to spend an hour, and for this old soldier, my hip hurts like hell and I’m ready to get out of here right now!’ But for this day, my duty was to assist anyone coming in.
Kevin would lock the ‘In’ gate and if I could hurry the old biddy along, we might make it to Smokey’s in time.
I broke post attention. My hip made gritty noises when I took the first step and the pain went up a notch. I must have made a real military sight: middle-aged man with a small pot gut and half a limp, in marine full-dress uniform, which had lost its razor crease about thirty minutes after I began the watch at the cemetery.
I stopped in front of her, halfway up the walk. She looked up at me with an old woman’s squint.
‘Ma’am, may I assist you in any way?’
She took long enough to answer.
‘Yes, son. Can you carry these flowers? I seem to be moving a tad slow these days.’
‘My pleasure, ma’am.’ Well, it wasn’t too much of a lie.
She looked again. ’Marine, where were you stationed?’
‘ Vietnam, ma’am. Ground-pounder. ‘69 to ‘71.’
She looked at me closer. ’Wounded in action, I see. Well done, Marine. I’ll be as quick as I can.’
I lied a little bigger: ’No hurry, ma’am.’
She smiled and winked at me. ’Son, I’m 85-years-old and I can tell a lie from a long way off. Let’s get this done. Might be the last time I can do this. My name’s Joanne Wieserman, and I’ve a few Marines I’d like to see one more time.’
‘Yes, ma ‘am. At your service.’
She headed for the World War I section, stopping at a stone. She picked one of the flowers out of my arm and laid it on top of the stone. She murmured something I couldn’t quite make out. The name on the marble was Donald S. Davidson, USMC: France 1918.
She turned away and made a straight line for the World War II section, stopping at one stone. I saw a tear slowly tracking its way down her cheek. She put a bunch on a stone; the name was Stephen X. Davidson, USMC, 1943.
She went up the row a ways and laid another bunch on a stone, Stanley J. Wieserman, USMC, 1944.
She paused for a second. ’Two more, son, and we’ll be done’
I almost didn’t say anything, but, ‘Yes, ma’am. Take your time.’
She looked confused. ‘Where’s the Vietnam section, son? I seem to have lost my way.’
I pointed with my chin. ’That way, ma’am.’
‘Oh!’ s he chuckled quietly. ’Son, me and old age ain’t too friendly.’
She headed down the walk I’d pointed at. She stopped at a couple of stones before she found the ones she wanted. She placed a bunch on Larry Wieserman, USMC, 1968, and the last on Darrel Wieserman, USMC, 1970. She stood there and murmured a few words I still couldn’t make out.
‘OK, son, I’m finished. Get me back to my car and you can go home.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ If I may ask, were those your kinfolk?’
She paused.
‘Yes, Donald Davidson was my father, Stephen was my uncle, Stanley was my husband, Larry and Darrel were our sons. All killed in action, all marines.’
She stopped. Whether she had finished, or couldn’t finish, I don’t know. She made her way to her car, slowly and painfully.
I waited for a polite distance to come between us and then double-timed it over to Kevin, waiting by the car.
‘Get to the ‘Out’ gate quick. I have something I’ve got to do.’
Kevin started to say something, but saw the look I gave him. He broke the rules to get us there down the service road. We beat her. She hadn’t made it around the rotunda yet.
‘Kevin, stand at attention next to the gatepost. Follow my lead.’ I humped it across the drive to the other post.
When the Cadillac came puttering around from the hedges and began the short straight traverse to the gate, I called in my best gunny’s voice: ’TehenHut! Present Haaaarms!’
I have to hand it to Kevin; he never blinked an eye–full dress attention and a salute that would make his DI proud.
She drove through that gate with two old worn-out soldiers giving her a send-off she deserved, for service rendered to her country, and for knowing duty, honor and sacrifice.
I am not sure, but I think I saw a salute returned from that Cadillac.
Instead of ‘The End,’ just think of ‘Taps.’
As a final thought on my part, let me share a favorite prayer: ’Lord, keep our servicemen and women safe, whether they serve at home or overseas. Hold them in your loving hands and protect them as they protect us.’
Let’s all keep those currently serving and those who have gone before in our thoughts. They are the reason for the many freedoms we enjoy.
‘In God We Trust.’
Sorry about your monitor; it made mine blurry too!
If we ever forget that we’re one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under!
Nov 08, 2008 | | Patriotic
Ron Hornaday seems to think so. He made a huge mistake in the first lap of Friday’s Craftsman Truck Series Race that cost him the race and could have cost him the championship. Afterwards he stated in an after race interview that Kyle Busch was racing him hard and that if Kyle is ever racing for a championship he will find Ron racing him just as hard. Good for you Ron. That is exactly what you are supposed to do. Every driver out there is getting paid to race hard.
This is not the first time Ron Hornaday and for that matter Johnny Benson has complained that Kyle was racing them hard and he should back off because they are racing for the title. I have only one thing to say to these two, “Suck it up, Bubba. That’s his job!” All the drivers have owners, sponsors, and fans that they must answer to. They are expected to win. If they don’t put the effort in, these drivers will end up watching the race on television like the rest of us. Some of these guys are looking for a ride next year. They need to make a good impression. Others need a sponsor. The best way to get one is to finish up front. There are some out there that may move up a position with a good finish. But Hornaday and Benson expect them to ride around the track and get out of the way when they come by? If that’s the only way they are going to win that championship, then they are not a champion and don’t deserve the title. From a fan’s point of view, I want it to go to the wire. I want to see some bumping. I don’t want to see anyone hurt, but I want a few wrecks. That is what makes racing fun.
Kyle doesn’t need to look for a ride. If he wants to drive in the CTS someone will give him a truck. He will not have to look hard for a sponsor. He is not going for the championship. Kyle is driving that truck with NO pay. He is doing it for Billy Ballew. I don’t know the back story of the two, but Kyle was committed to help Billy Ballew win an owner’s championship. He has flown between races several times this year to drive that truck. Last week, on the way to Texas, the hauler caught on fire in Bossier City, LA. The hauler and almost everything in it, including the primary truck, was destroyed. The only things salvaged were the backup truck and a scarred pit box. “Everything else is gone. It’s unfortunate for Billy,” Kyle said. “I’m sure the $1 million in insurance won’t cover all that was lost.” Other teams loaned them a hauler and tools to get them through to the end of the season. Kyle said the salvaged truck was full of water after firefighters put out the fire. The crew worked overnight Wednesday pumping the engine and making sure everything ran OK. “It seems like everything is just normal with it,” Busch said. “I’ll put a car freshener in it, hang it from the mirror.” He drove his heart out in that truck and finished second.
Remember Kyle doesn’t get paid to race in Trucks. Billy Ballew would have gotten the money if he had won last week and Friday night. Kyle wasn’t racing Ron Hornaday for his own benefit or the glory. He was racing to help a friend, a friend who would have benefitted from the money more than anyone.
I realize that Ron was disappointed and frustrated. He had every right to be. Had he had time to think about it, he may not have been so harsh. Everyone, the announcers, Kevin Harvick and Ron Hornaday all agreed it was Ron’s mistake and he bumped Kyle. Kyle did not deserve the criticism. He did nothing wrong.
Nov 08, 2008 | | NASCAR
Kyle Busch done a good thing. But when it comes to Kyle Busch nothing he does is good enough for some people. Not even a $100,000 donation to a fellow man in need. The big complaint now is that Kyle made an announcement about the donation. He did it for the publicity. Don’t you think he could have found a cheaper way to get publicity? Does Kyle Busch really need any more publicity? All the people who hate Kyle give him all the attention he will ever need. He may be considered the most hated driver in NASCAR but he is definitely one of the most well known drivers also.
Kevin Harvick and Dale Jr. both donated to Sam Ard and asked others to do the same. How many people remember that? How many knew that he had Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases?
Kyle tied Mr. Ard’s record, then got on TV and announced a huge donation. Now it’s being talked about everywhere. People like us are arguing about whether or not Kyle was sincere or seeking attention. Kyle has won some people over and some still hate him.
But there is one thing no one can deny. People are talking about Sam Ard and his problems. All of the NASCAR community knows about his financial situation. Everyone knows what has and has not been done for one of NASCAR’s greats.
The question is: Is Kyle a selfish boy seeking attention or is Kyle a shrewd fund raiser who knows how to get people talking?
Think about it all you haters. How many of us were worried about Sam Ard last Friday?
Nov 04, 2008 | | Charity, NASCAR
Kyle Busch is considered the most hated driver in NASCAR. Some of have known for a long time that it is a title he did not earn. He has proved many time over that he has a heart of gold. He is generous, kind hearted and genuinely good. Saturday night Kyle stepped up and proved all his supporters were right and the haters are just that, haters. This goes beyond NASCAR and sports. This is about a young man with character, a good heart and an appreciation for those who have traveled the path before him. It’s time to give Kyle the credit he deserves and give Sam Ard the respect he earned.
Ards can’t put price on Busch $100,000 donation
By Jenna Fryer, AP Auto Racing Writer
November 3, 2008
07:12 PM EST
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Sam Ard was unsettled late Saturday night, unable to sleep as he peppered his wife about things he couldn’t remember.
Were his parents still alive when he married Jo nearly 50 years ago? Were they doing a good job raising their children?
“He asked me ‘What if I go back racing?’ ” Jo Ard said Monday. “I said ‘If you go back racing, I’m going to hand you divorce papers. Nobody is going to let you go racing.’ ”
Ard’s racing days are indeed long over.
He’s 69 years old and suffering from both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. He’s not permitted to drive anywhere anymore, and no one is exactly sure how much Ard understands about the latest push to help his crumbling finances and mounting medical bills.
Kevin Harvick, a champion of Ard’s plight, donated a 2007 Chevrolet van last month to Ard’s family that solved the transportation woes that plagued the couple since Jo’s car died five months ago. Then the NASCAR Foundation and Motor Racing Outreach teamed for an online auction to benefit the Sam Ard Fund.
The largest gesture, though, came Saturday afternoon when Kyle Buschcommitted $100,000 to Ard moments after winning the Nationwide Series race. The win at Texas Motor Speedway tied Ard’s mark of 10 series victories in a season.
“Sam Ard is one of the pioneers of this [series], and to be tied with him at 10 wins is something that’s pretty spectacular and really, really special to me,” Busch said. “I’m going to try to help him out and see what I can do. It’s not much, but it’s something that can try to help.”
But to the Ard’s, the gesture was enormous.
Ard didn’t have a particularly long NASCAR career, but his three seasons netted him two championships in the second-tier series now sponsored by Nationwide. He never got rich from racing, and collected roughly 25 percent of the $378,765 he made in winnings before suffering severe head trauma in a 1984 accident.
Unable to secure a consistent income after the accident, the Ards blew through their children’s college funds to cover everyday expenses. Unlike every other major professional league, NASCAR does not provide a pension to its participants and has not been on the hook for Ard or any other former driver facing financial difficulties.
The NASCAR community has occasionally stepped in to help, and a 2006 plea to their peers by Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. led to a significant donation to Ard’s care fund. That gesture and Ard’s fight were the centerpiece of a 2007 Associated Press examination of NASCAR’s indifference toward financially supporting its veterans.
Jo used the money to pay off the mortgage on their doublewide trailer in Pamplico, S.C., repay debts and collect the two championship rings that Ard was forced to turn over as collateral on a loan. Then Ard was seriously injured in an April 2007, accident on an all-terrain vehicle that gobbled up the last of the money.
When the balance in the fund dipped below $200 earlier this year, Jo Ard had to close the account before Wachovia’s $35 monthly maintenance fee gobbled what remained. Social Security, Ard’s veterans benefits and the little bit Jo brings home from cleaning houses and taking care of some hunting dogs is the only money currently coming in.
So when Busch pledged his assistance, Jo Ard said the 23-year-old racer had no idea the magnitude of his gesture. She said she’ll use a chunk of the money to make their bathroom handicap accessible so Ard can use it alone.
“Kyle doesn’t know what he’s done. He really, truly does not know what he’s done to take the load and the pressure off of me,” Jo Ard said by telephone Monday. “We can do the bathroom. I can maybe get someone to come to the house and help me if I need them, because we’re here day in and day out because Sammy can’t be left alone. He falls. He can’t drive. He’ll tell you he feels fine, but every day is different.”
Ard watched Saturday’s race at Texas with his grandson, aware that Busch was chasing his 1983 mark for wins in a season. Jo was with her sister for a rare dinner out when son, Robert, called her.
“Mama, are you sitting down?” Robert told her. “Well, Kyle tied Daddy’s record, and I had someone call me and tell me that Kyle is going to give Daddy $100,000.”
Hours later, when a fidgety Ard kept Jo up talking until 2:30 a.m., she sensed he understood Busch’s contribution.
“I guess his mind was just thinking because he said ‘I’ve been praying that something could come along that we could pay the bills and you can get a car,’ ” Jo said. “So he’s aware of what’s going. I asked him what he wanted to do with Kyle’s money, and he said for me to do whatever I wanted. He just wanted a couple hundred dollars to put in his wallet.”
Many view the Ard’s predicament as NASCAR turning a blind eye toward its pioneers with its refusal to pay a pension plan to its athletes. NASCAR’s direct employees are eligible for both a pension and retirement fund, but drivers and crew members are viewed as “independent contractors” and aren’t covered for any sort of assistance.
The Ards have gone through stages where they’ve been angry at NASCAR and its antiquated policies. But Jo Ard isn’t bitter right now, instead so grateful to the community help they’ve received. Although the sanctioning body does not specifically contribute anything, individual high-ranking officials have made personal financial donations for his care.
“There’s been some good boys,” Jo said, “and we’re just so thankful for their help.”
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Nov 03, 2008 | | Charity, NASCAR
