Darrell Gwynn Foundation To Host “track Walk For Those Who Can’t”

March 5, 2010 - PRLog -- GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Some of Darrell Gwynn’s greatest moments came on the quarter-mile track at Gainesville Raceway. In March 1990, he raced to his second consecutive Gatornationals victory, cementing his status as one of the National Hot Rod Association’s (NHRA) top drivers. Twenty years later, Gwynn returns to the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals with a different mission.

On Sunday, March 14 at 8 a.m., the Darrell Gwynn Foundation will host a special “Track Walk for Those Who Can’t.” Fans will be able to get “up-close and personal” with Gwynn and other NHRA stars by walking with them on the famed track for a donation of $20 or more to the Foundation. Fans wishing to take part in the Track Walk, can sign up at the Darrell Gwynn Foundation booth located behind the Top Eliminator Club Grandstand at the Raceway (walk participants must have a Gainesville Raceway Sunday admission to participate). Money raised will support the Darrell Gwynn Foundation’s ongoing work to provide education about spinal cord injury prevention, offer support to those afflicted by spinal cord injuries and debilitating disease, and raise funds to help find a cure.

“The Track Walk will be a unique opportunity for drag racing fans to meet some of the sport’s top drivers and walk the revered track,” Gwynn said. “I thank the National Hot Rod Association and Gainesville Raceway for their continued support of this very special event to benefit our work.”

The Track Walk is just one of several events being held at Gatornationals as a tribute to Gwynn. Champion driver Doug Kalitta of Kalitta Motorsports will race a dragster bearing Gwynn’s marquee Coors Extra Gold paint scheme during this year’s races. And a meticulously replicated show version of Gwynn’s 1990 Top Fuel dragster will be displayed on the track midway adjacent to the Foundation booth. Fans are invited to visit the display, take photos of the car and contribute to the Foundation’s goal of raising $1 million through the show car. Nearly $500,000 already has been raised.

Gwynn won 28 national events and set an elapsed time record of 4.909 seconds at Houston Raceway Park in Texas on March 2, 1990. Just one month later, his career was cut short by a tragic Easter Sunday crash at England’s Santa Pod Raceway that left Gwynn paralyzed from the waist down.

But Gwynn wasn’t ready to stop competing. Through the Darrell Gwynn Foundation, he now is committed to raising awareness and money to help children and young adults who are living with spinal cord injuries and debilitating disease. His organization spearheads spinal cord injury education programs, supports long-term healthcare services for new spinal cord injury patients, and raises funds for a cure.

The Darrell Gwynn Foundation is a Davie, Fla.-based non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. For more information on the Foundation and the programs it supports, visit www.darrellgwynnfoundation.org or call 954-792-7223. For Gatornationals ticket information, call 1-800-884-6472 (Pacific Standard Time) or visit www.gainesvilleraceway.com.