NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart will return to the area with his teammates for the 7th Annual Zippy’s Crusade for Kids charity snowmobile event on Friday and Saturday, January 25 and 26 at The Ole Barn in Inlet.
This year’s event will feature a number of celebrities in the worlds of both racing and hunting. Sprint car driver Donny Shots and Speed Television personality Wendy Venturini, owner of the number 32 Winston Cup car, Frank Stoddard, and country music singer Bobby Kendall will also appear, as will event hosts, Scott, Greg and Nan Zipadelli.
“We are really excited to welcome back all of our NASCAR friends,” said Kathy Hansen, co-owner of The Ole Barn.
The event will begin Friday with sign-in and cocktails at the Ole Barn at 5 p.m., followed by a meet-and-greet autograph session at 7 p.m. Music and dancing will be provided by Bobby Kendall and Kim Fox.
“The entertainment is being stepped up a little bit this year. The rumor is that Kim Fox and Bobby Kendall have come up with their own song for the crusade that they are supposed to perform,” said event organizer Spot Ste.Marie.
Saturday’s activities will begin with a 10 a.m. brunch and an 11 a.m. line-up for the snowmobile ride. Guests will spend the afternoon snowmobiling with the celebrities.
At 5 p.m. the party heads back to the Ole Barn for a variety of raffle drawings, a silent auction and live auction.
Items up for raffle include tickets to the Bristol Speedway, compound bows, a cross bow, an Arctic Cat side-by-side Prowler valued at $14,000, and an Ez-Go Golf Cart valued at $8,000.
Another big raffle item, donated by Drop Zone TV, is a bear hunt in Brunswick which offers the winner the opportunity of being featured on an episode of the cable program.
Drop Zone TV will be returning this year and will be filming throughout the weekend.
A number of items will be auctioned off during the live and silent auctions to help raise money for the not-for-profit Zippy’s foundation.
Some of the lot items include a variety of Oakley sunglasses, an Oakley watch, an American Girl Doll package, Adirondack-made furniture, NASCAR fire suits and helmets—some autographed, and sheets of metal from race cars autographed by NASCAR drivers.
Ste. Marie said this year’s ticket sales are slightly over what they were at this time last year, and he expects the event to be a sell-out.
“Now we just need the weather to cooperate a little bit more and give us a little bit more snow,” he said.
