Gateway International Raceway Hosts

a Christian Family Day May 10

 

            The Charter Pipeline 250 NASCAR Busch Series race – and free post-race concert by Lonestar -- on Saturday May 10 at Gateway International Raceway will be a star-spangled celebration of God, Family and Country.

            There will be a patriotic salute to America’s Armed Forces currently involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Color guards, flyovers and patriotic music from the Air Force Band of Mid-America will mark the pre-race festivities. Invited to be part of the festivities are Gen. John W. Handy, Commander of the USTRANSCOM and Col. Darren McDew, Commander of the 375th Airlift Wing, both based at Scott Air Force Base.

            In addition, Gateway has offered a large block of free tickets to be distributed to families of Scott personnel currently stationed overseas as part of Iraqi Freedom. Gateway also has offered greatly reduced tickets to its 2003 events to all military personnel at Scott AFB –  tickets that can be purchased at the base travel office.

            “We owe these men and women a huge debt for standing guard and protecting our freedom here in America. But the sacrifice goes beyond the military to their families, who live with the hardships and uncertainty of moments like this,” Gateway Vice President and General Manager Matt Strelo said. “We wanted to do something for those family members, something that would give them an afternoon of enjoyment, and hopefully take their mind off their worries and cares – if only for a few hours.  This is one small way that all of us at Gateway can say thank you to these brave, and committed Americans.”

            The Charter Pipeline 250 will also host the second Christian Family Day sponsored by Gateway, and the Baptist Associations of St. Louis and the Metro East.

            The event combines a day of faith and racing fun for thousands of believers and a chance for them to minister and speak of their faith to others. More than 250 area churches have already committed to Christian Family Day, and dozens more are expected to participate.

            Before the race, there will be a special Ministry Tent operated by the two associations. There will be face painting, interactive games and prizes for young people and counselors and pastors to minister to those in need.

            Reigning Winston Cup team owner Joe Gibbs, a committed Christian who has won two Cup titles after coaching the Washington Redskins to three Super Bowl titles, is expected to make an appearance at the tent before the race.

            Joe Gibbs racing fields a two-car Busch Series effort featuring Mike Bliss, last year’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion, and Gibbs’ son Coy.

            After the 2 p.m. Charter Pipeline 250, the action moves to the Gateway drag strip. There will be a Christian Family Day rally featuring testimony by top Busch Series drivers Kerry Earnhardt, Jason Keller, Hank Parker Jr. and Stacy Compton.

            Following the Christian rally, there will be a free concert by the reigning Academy of Country Music Vocal Group of the Year, multi-platinum BNA Recording artists Lonestar.

            Gateway will provide several hundred tickets to be distributed free to church groups that minister to the area’s underprivileged youth.

            “We were thrilled with the results of our first Christian Family Day last year, and are very excited by the level of participation we’re expecting this year,” Gateway Strelo said. “We want this to be a day for God, Family and Country and this fits right in.”

            Keller, a two-time Gateway runnerup, Compton, Earnhardt and Parker will battle to take their place in history in a race that has seen champions like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, Elliott Sadler and last year’s winner, Greg Biffle. There is stiff competition, as always, in the Busch Series. They’ll battle the likes of last year’s Gateway runner-up, Ron Hornaday, who is now driving the ACDelco Chevrolet that went to Gateway’s Victory Lane four straight years (1998-2001) with Dale Jr. and Harvick behind the wheel.

            St. Louis natives Kenny and Mike Wallace will also be back looking for that first big victory on this, their hometown track.

            Tickets for the Charter Pipeline 250 and the free post-race Lonestar concert, and all of Gateway’s major events, are available by calling (866) 35-SPEED or going online at www.gatewayraceway.com. Churches interested in obtaining group tickets for Christian Family Day can call Kristie Hakman at (618) 875-7533.