Charity Truckers 200 raises $14,185.54 for Lacey Pate & Family !

[Rick B.]

Because you cared, volunteered and gave we have raised $14,185.54 for Lacey and her family, I can also tell you that becuse of a few people who wish to be unnamed we will send $500 to Tommy Hopkins and family and $500 to Kaleigh Helmick and family for Christmas. All I can say is from the bottom of my heart to all of you...................THANKYOU SO MUCH ! I know the families will appreciate it very much. The total for Lacey could change because I have t-shirt orders for more, if you did not get a charity shirt and would like one please let me know I will order them and get with you. Thanks again and may you have a Merry Christmas and may God Bless you.
Rick Bristol

[ocalasp76]

Great Job Rick And Staff

My wife and I had a great time and with the help of the members of my Rotary club we were able to add to the total for little Lacey.
Merry Christmas..
----JIM---

[Boneman]

Agreed, well done Rick! It was not my imagination; this race weekend had a great feel to it. As always, there were lots of competitive racers there trying their best, but I felt Lacey's strong influence on all the proceedings. Her story is very touching. She and her family are very deserving of the money and support that you generated. May the Good Lord bless them all.

Its great that you had several good races too! The 200 made me a truck fan. I finally came to the conclusion that this class does many things right: they are less expensive and can race door to door. They were also durable enough to run a 200 lapper with few trucks dropping out for mechanical troubles. (Sorry Scott!)

[Jane]

I am so happy you did well for Lacey and her family Rick and that the other two families also will have a better Christmas. I told Mr. Tommy he looked very good when he came to the backgate for his pass and he has the prettiest eyes.

Since our go-kart days and helping the Children's Homes, you have brighten many a face Rick. You are such a giving person in helping others and wanting them to know there is someone out there who really does care and really does want to help. When you have a sick child it is hard on everyone and sometimes that sickness seems to tear apart the family instead of bringing it closer together, I know mine was. My ex could not accept that he had a sick daughter and it was going to be a fight for her life so he just left us but these families are strong and there for each other and they are very lucky in having you there for them also.

God bless you Rick and your family for doing such wonderful things for others.

[BJ Cavin]

I am so happy that Diamond Jim and Virginia talked us into going to Orlando for the races. First of all, it was wonderful to see Lacey and her family, and to be a tiny part of the outpouring of support that they got from the event. But it was also great to meet folks like Boneman and Rusty Marcus for the first time and put faces with the names. And plus I got to see some old friends too, like Frasson, Jack Smith, and the rest of the Karnac gang. And I have to admit that even with my dirt prejudices still firmly intact, that was some fun and exciting racing last night, especially since it was for such a worthy cause!

I only have one question.....

What the heck was Bill Green smokin' during the bandolero race? ROFL!!!!!! That was too funny!

[carolwicks]

Rick Bristol....

YOU ARE AMAZING !!!!

Racing is blessed because of people like you who care. People who take time from their lives to care about those less fortunate. God bless...
carolwicks OZZIE

[Rick Anges]

It was an amazing night for sure. Rick Bristol you did it again my friend. I still say your the hardest working man with the biggest heart in all of Florida racing. Thank you for letting me be part of this. Bill Jack and I had a great time.

P.S. I'm not sure what Bill was on B.J., but when he started singing I moved down to the other end of the tower..........LOL

[Cara]

Rick, you and your crew did an awesome job and put on a great show!!!!

[Frasson118]

First things first: Rick and I don't see quite eye-to-eye all the time, but I am in complete respect for what he has put together with this race. The work that must have gone into this project must have been unreal. To get that many people together, and working with each other, is no small accomplishment. Positively 2 Thumbs up, and more if I had more thumbs. GREAT JOB Rick!

Secondly, it's not a big secret that I'm not much of a Truck fan... but I think that's starting to change. I had an absolute blast this weekend, and met some damn fine people along the way that are involved in this division. After meeting Charlie Montgomery for the first time (actually had never even heard of him before), I walked away thinking this is a guy I'll keep an eye on in the 200. After the Friday races (which included very good races in both the Super Stocks and Strictly Stocks), I happened to run into a group of people camping at the track that were playing some KILLER Bluegrass music that I couldn't walk away from for almost 3 hours. In talking with these people, I found that the Guitar player (Chris) was also the car owner for the #41, the #12, and helping out the #84 team. They were hoping for a top 5 finish, but man did they under-estimate them selves! All they accomplished was a 1-2-3 finish! Needless to say, the Bluegrass and the beer were flowing again last night until almost 3:00 AM.

Got to see a million friends, and unfortunatley, had to say Goodbye to one of them.... Rusty Marcus. I think when Rusty and I first knew of each other, he figured me to be a loud-mouthed, Internet based, armchair quarterback (and he was right). I figured him to be a Don Nerone puppet that wouldn't listen to outside suggestions on how to make OSW a better place (I couldn't have been MORE wrong). For me, all it took was a couple of hours listening to his ideas, his interaction with employees, racers and fans, and I realized how good this guy could be for our local Speedway. I'm glad to say that we put the BS away, and actually became friends. I respect the hell out of him, and wish him nothing but success at Monroe. Instead of telling him Goodbye, I instead decided to tell him "see you soon", as I now have plans to visit him at his NEW home Speedway next year. I hope I can talk a few of the race-crazies into a road trip to go visit him in '09.

All-in-all, for a weekend that I really had not looked forward to (and really only went because there was nothing better to do), I had a LOT more fun than I ever thought I would at a Truck race. This race will now be on my annual "can't-miss" list (unless some Snowball Derby plans work out).

Thanks to the literally DOZENS of people that made this one hell of a fun weekend for someone who doesn't even like Trucks.

One weekend really changed my opinion!

[Boneman]

Jim and Virginia (Mr. + Mrs. OcalaSp) brought their show car for the weekend, and a generous check for Lacey.

[KISS_Racing]

Rick,

Thanks again for having Us. Pancho and I really enjoyed meeting everyone and we look forward to bringing at least one truck next year. Thank yo for your heart and for all you do.

We are presently in Charlotte at the airport waiting to broad. I will post a short videoclip of the start of the race tonight...

Mark O'Donnell (KISS_Racing)
Pancho Mendoza Powell(Racing For Jesus)

[carolwicks]

Jerry Binner....

hiya Frassy... that was one of the best posts you have ever written. !!! I'm so happy you finally got to enjoy TRUCK racing. I used to hate Thunder Trucks and tolerated Fastrucks because i loved the guys that raced them... i never watched a Craftsman race until this year! now i feel so different. these guys know how to please a crowd and i too am reformed! hahaha
Rick Bristol IS special. He is a deeply spiritual man and God has given him a special gift. Not everyone in the racing family can do what he does every year. i wouldnt even try because it takes more dedication, time, effort, and leadership than i could muster.
Too bad there arent more Rick Bristols because the world sure could use them!!!!
Glad you all had such a good time.. i will miss Rusty too but i think he will be happy and thats all i could wish for him...
So all in all, this week we learned ALOT about the wonderful people in our sport, we learned that NOTHING is impossible, we learned that Jerry Binner liked T~R~U~C~K~S !!!!! YAHOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!
OZZIE
p.s.
OH YEH !!!! when Chappy sings.... everyone listens!!! They HAVE to. Love you Chaplain Bill!

[KISS_Racing]

Rick,

Just a quick note, Pancho and I just arrived back in San Antonio. I tried to post from the airport in Charlotte, but it didnt work.

Thank you so much for inviting Us to come. We wish we could have gotten the truck ready and made the trip with it. There is always next year!

Thank you for what you do and thanks for your heart. Also thanks to all the kind people we met while there...


See ya'll next year and God Bless,
Mark O'Donnell(KISS Racing)
Pancho Mendoza Powell(Racing For Jesus)

[Rick B.]

For all the kind words I say thankyou, but it is not me, I am just an instrument !

I appreciate all the kind works, but as I have said since day one, it is not me I am simply doing what my Savior Jesus Christ has called me to do since he saved my soul in Feb. 1985. I am proud that he would use me to help others, I am blessed that he allows me to preach his word and I am in awe of the many things he has done for me, including giving me a wonderful wife of now 25 years and two gracious, kind, loving daughters who make me proud everyday. I am the lucky one in all of this, it is work, but it is His work I do.
I am thankful that this weekend brings drivers, fans, crews, critics, media, officials and families together. More than it being a big race weekend it is now becoming a happening, where we can help a family in need each year. I am thankful to all my friends, family and even my critics for being there to support the family. That is the most important thing !

Again thanks and please remember to pray for Jenni Foxworth as she battles a very serious cancer and for Gary her husband as he has some tough things ahead including costly medical bills. May God bless them both.