Auction Donations - Richard Petty

We would like to thank Nascar driver Richard Petty for this donation to our 2010 Angel Ball!

Richard Petty biography from Nascar.com

Born: July 2, 1937
Hometown: Randleman, N.C.
Competed: 1958-92
Starts: 1,185
Wins: 200
Poles: 123

Career Highlights
Very rarely in sports do you find the all-time greatest competitor double as the all-time greatest ambassador.
But that's exactly what you get with Richard "The King" Petty.
The mountain of records he holds -- most of which will never be broken -- is one thing. But what Petty brought to NASCAR off the track during and after his long career cannot be measured by any numerical figures.
The countless autographs he signed and the hands he shook made him a fan favorite, and pushed NASCAR toward the front of the American conscience. Credit Petty for making NASCAR what it is today -- the most fan-friendly sport in the world.
But his on-track success cannot be ignored. His Cup Series records are staggering: most wins (200), most poles (123), tied for most championships (seven), most wins in a season (27), most Daytona 500 wins (seven), most consecutive wins (10) and most starts (1,185).
Petty's success continued even after his retirement from driving in 1992. He would still hold the top spot in the family business -- Petty Enterprises, and now, Richard Petty Motorsports.
In all, Petty Enterprises totaled 268 victories before merging with Gillett Evernham Motorsports for the 2009 season to become Richard Petty Motorsports.

Auction Donations - Kasey Kahne

We would like to thank Nascar driver Kasey Kahne for his donation to our 2010 Angel Ball!

Kasey Kahne's Biography from Nascar.com

Birthday: April 10, 1980
Hometown: Enumclaw, Wash.

Kahne

YEAR-BY-YEAR CUP SERIES RECAP

2009 -- Finished 10th in series points. ... Won two races for the second consecutive season. ... His victory at Infineon Raceway on June 21 brought legend Richard Petty back to Victory Lane as an owner for the first time since John Andretti won at Martinsville on April 18, 1999. ... Kahne entered the Chase seeded fifth, but finished 32nd or worse three times in the final 10 races.

2008 -- Finished 14th in series points. ... Voted into All-Star Race and won; then won the Coca-Cola 600 the following weekend. ... Also won the season's first Pocono event. .. Started on the pole at the first Pocono race and at Sonoma.... Was in the series standings' top 12 for the first eight weeks of the season.
2007 -- Finished 19th in series points. ... Finished with one top-five, eight top-10s and two poles. ... Had six DNFs during a frustrating season in which he dipped as low as 36th in the standings. ... Earned poles at Bristol and Las Vegas.

2006 -- Finished eighth in series points. ... Finished with six wins, 12 top-fives and 19 top-10s. ... Won a series-high six races and a career-high six poles. ... Earned first Chase berth. ... Finished in the top 10 for the first time in his career.

2005 -- Finished 23rd in series points. ... Earned first career win May 14 at Richmond. ... Finished with two poles, one win, five top-fives, eight top-10s and nine DNFs. ... Earned back-to-back poles at Darlington and Richmond in May.

2004 -- Finished 13th in series points in rookie campaign. ... Captured four series poles -- third-highest total of the season. ... Earned first pole in only his third career start (Las Vegas). ... Recorded three top-five finishes in his first four career starts. ... Secured third runner-up finish in six weeks at Texas in April. ... Missed qualifying for the Chase by 28 points. ... Ended the season by compiling three top-fives in the final four races.

PREVIOUS RACING HISTORY
After spending his entire racing career in open-wheel, Kahne spent 2002 and 2003 in the Busch Series. ... He drove for Robert Yates Racing during his 2002 rookie season, running 20 of 34 events and finishing 33rd in the standings. ... He moved to Akins Motorsports in 2003 and finished seventh in the standings, a season highlighted by his first career win -- in the season finale at Homestead -- and 14 top-10 finishes. ... He also earned his first career Busch Series pole, at Michigan in August. ... Prior to stock cars, Kahne was considered a top open-wheel talent. ... His accomplishments include the 2000 USAC Midget title and the 2000 USAC Silver Bullet Series rookie of the year.... In 2001, he ran limited schedules in the Toyota Atlantic Series and Formula Ford 2000 Series before moving to the Busch Series in 2002.

NOTEWORTHY
Hired by longtime motorsports car owner Steve Lewis, who has fielded cars for Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart to compete in the USAC Sprint, Midget and Silver Crown series during the 2000 season. ... Won the "Night before the 500" Classic at O'Reilly Raceway Park in 2000 and 2001, becoming the first driver to post back-to-back victories in the annual event since Jeff Gordon in 1989-90. ... Honored by his hometown of Enumclaw, Wash., with Kasey Kahne Day on Sept. 5, 2005.

Auction Donations - Joe Nemecheck

We would like to thank Nascar driver Joe Nemecheck for his donation to our 2010 Angel Ball!

Joe Nemechek biography from Nascar.com

Joe Nemechek, who scored a breakthrough Winston Cup victory in 1999, made a huge stride in consistency and competitiveness in 2000 with Andy Petree Racing. The Naples, Fla., native finished 15th in the point standings, his career best by 11 positions and solid consistency down the stretch indicates he might be ready to make the next step in 2001. 

Nemechek returns for his second season in APR's No. 33 Oakwood Homes Chevrolets, tuned by rookie crew chief Danny Gill, with aspirations of getting his second victory to go with the inaugural he won in September 1999 at New Hampshire. 

Nemechek, who moved to the Winston Cup Series after winning the Busch Series championship in 1992, started the 2000 season with a lurch, finishing 42nd in the Daytona 500 and worse than 30th in three of the first four races. However, he ended the season with three top-5 and nine top-10 results. 

In 13 of the 17 races in the second half of the season, Nemechek finished in the top-25 a streak that actually started with an 11th place run at Sears Point in June, when he was 25th in the standings. Qualifying was not a problem for "Front Row Joe" either, as he qualified in the first round 23 times in 34 races, including winning a Bud Pole for the Winston 500 at Talladega. He finished second in his first return to New Hampshire since winning and also ended up third at Talladega in the fall. 

Nemechek began his racing career in motocross at age 13. In six years he took home more than 300 trophies. He made the switch to stock cars in 1986 and along the way has posted victories in every series in which he has raced. Nemechek won championships and rookie of the year honors in three different series in three straight years -- the Southeastern Mini Stock Series in 1987, the U.S.A.R. series in 1988 and the All Pro series in 1989. He followed that with Busch Series Rookie of the Year honors in 1990. 

He led his family-owned team to the Busch Series championship in 1992 as well as back-to-back most popular driver awards in 1992-93. He continues to operate Nemco Motorsports with longtime crew chief Brian Pattie, which fields part-time efforts in NASCAR's three premier series for Nemechek and selected drivers. 

Nemechek has certainly seen and experienced quite a bit in his relatively brief Winston Cup Series career. Joining Larry Hedrick's team, he contended for the 1994 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year title, finishing third in a strong field of candidates. He formed his own team in the latter stages of 1994 and secured Burger King sponsorship for the entire 1995 season. He moved to Team SABCO after two years as his own boss, then joined APR in 2000. 

Throughout his racing career, he has drawn on the mechanical engineering knowledge gained when he attended the Florida Institute of Technology before turning to racing full-time.

Auction Donations - Kenny Wallace

We would like to thank Nascar driver Kenny Wallace for his donations to our 2010 Angel Ball!

 

Kenny Wallace Biography from Jegs.com

Kenny Wallace’s racing background came straight from his bloodlines. His father, Russ, was one of the Midwest’s most successful short track drivers and his older brothers, Rusty and Mike, compete against Kenny in the highest levels of NASCAR racing.

In 1982, Kenny Wallace won the first race that he ever entered, “The Illinois Street Stock State Championship”. Since that day, Kenny’s success has garnered many accolades and produced milestones throughout this career.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
• 9-time NASCAR Busch Series Winner
• Winner of 10 NASCAR Busch Series Pole Awards
• Three-Time Busch Series Most Popular Driver (1991, 1994, 2006)
• Runner-up for 1991 NASCAR Busch Series Championship
• Finished Top-10 in Busch Series Standings Nine Times
• NASCAR Busch Series Rookie of the Year – 1989
• ASA Rookie of the Year – 1986


Over the years, Kenny Wallace has built a reputation as one of NASCAR’s most colorful and well known personalities. Kenny’s popularity is still on the rise due in large part to his TV appearances on NASCAR Drivers: 360 and SPEED Channel’s “NASCAR RaceDay” and “NASCAR Victory Lane”.

Kenny Wallace is a driver that is well respected by owners, drivers and sponsors throughout the garage area, and he is often sought after to provide his driving services. In 2006, Wallace brought his driving talent and experience to a newly developing NEXTEL Cup team. Furniture Row Racing is now entering its second full-time season and Kenny Wallace is determined to help the team continue to grow and develop into a competitive NEXTEL Cup team in 2007.


Fast Facts
Date of Birth: August 23, 1963
Height: 5' 11" Weight: 172
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Resides: Concord, North Carolina
Wife: Kim Wallace (high-school sweetheart)
Children: Brooke (21), Brandy (18),
Brittany (16)
Parents: Russ and Judy Wallace
Brothers: Rusty and Mike Wallace
Favorite food: pork chops, Oriental chicken salad
Favorite sports team: St. Louis Cardinals
Favorite band(s): Aerosmith, Nelly, Patsy Cline
Favorite movie: The Green Mile
Hobbies: Spending time with family, racing dirt cars
Number of years racing (professional): 20 years
Racing role-model: Dick Trickle
Track you most want to win at: the next one Favorite track: the next one
Most memorable racing experience: 2001 Talladega race, pushing Dale Earnhardt to his final win
What do you like most about racing? Chance of winning each weekend

Auction Donations - Al Unser

We would like to thank Nascar driver , 4 time Indy 500 Winner, Al Unser for his donation to our 2010 Angel Ball!

Auction Donations - Ed Ferree

We would like to thank Nascar driver Ed Ferree for his donation to our 2010 Angel Ball!

Auction Donations - Michael Waltrip

We would like to thank Nascar driver Michael Waltrip for his donation to our 2010 Angel Ball!

Michael Waltrip Biography from Nascar.com

Birthday: April 30, 1963
Hometown: Owensboro, Ky.

YEAR-BY-YEAR CUP SERIES RECAP

2008 -- Finished 29th in series points. ... Won the outside pole for the Daytona 500. ... Finished second at New Hampshire, his best finish as an owner. ... Posted one top-five (New Hampshire in June) and two top-10s (New Hampshire in June and Dover in September).

2007 -- Finished 44th in series points. ... First full season as an owner/driver. ... Won the pole for the second Talladega race ... Notched two top-10s (Michigan and Charlotte)

2006 -- Finished 37th in series points ... Season-best finish was 14th at Talladega in October. ... Announced partnership with Toyota and Michael Waltrip Racing, to field three Cup Series entries in 2007.

2005 -- Finished 25th in series points. ... Started third in the Daytona 500 and led 42 laps, but finished 36th due to engine problems. ... Best finish of the season was second in the spring Phoenix race. ... Pole-sitter for first Pocono race. ... Moved to Bill Davis Racing's Dodge team in 2006 after five full seasons at Dale Earnhardt Inc.

2004 -- Finished 20th in series points. ... Disappointing season started with 38th-place finish in Daytona 500. Highest spot in points after that was 16th. ... Best finish was second in Coca-Cola 600; best start was second in Talladega spring event and Daytona summer race. ... Had fourth-place runs in two non-points events, the first 125-mile qualifier for the Daytona 500 and the All-Star Race.

2003 -- Finished 15th in series points. ... Won Daytona 500 for the second time in three seasons, becoming one of eight drivers to win the series' most prestigious race two or more times. ... Had first multiple-win season of his career by adding a victory at Talladega in September. ... Led points following third-place finish at Las Vegas, and stood firmly in the Cup top 10 for 27 race weeks. ... His 10 finishes of 26th or worse in the last 13 races -- which included all six of his DNFs -- dropped him to his final standing. ... Also drove part-time Busch Series schedule (20 races), winning at Bristol in August.

2002 -- Finished 14th in series points. ... Dominated restrictor-plate races, winning at Daytona in July and finishing fifth at the Daytona 500 after winning a Duel 125 event. ... Recorded finishes of second and eighth, respectively, at Talladega. ... After a slow start, surged from 24th to 12th in the points with three of his four total top-fives and six of his 10 top-10 finishes within a nine-race span beginning with a second-place effort at Talladega in April. ... Finished the year with seven top-15 finishes in the final 14 events. ... Points finish was highest in six years (14th in 1996). ... Signed a four-year deal with DEI in July.

2001 -- Finished 24th in series points. ... Won his first series race in 463 career starts at the Daytona 500. ... Finished second to teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Daytona five months later. ... Was second at Homestead in first season with DEI for a total of three top-fives; his two runner-up efforts were his first since 1988, at that point his best finish in the series.

2000 -- Finished 27th in series points. ... Had one top-five finish, a season-best third at Martinsville in April. ... Ran season's first 19 races for Jim Mattei and finished driving for Jim Smith.

1999 -- Finished 29th in series points. ... First season with Mattei Motorsports produced his first top-five finish in three years, a fifth-place effort at the Daytona 500. ... Also recorded two top-10s.

1998 -- Finished 17th in series points. ... In his final season with the Wood Brothers, managed five top-10 finishes, including a season-best sixth in the Daytona 500. ... Had string of 387 consecutive starts snapped when he failed to qualify at Phoenix.

1997 -- Finished 18th in series points. ... Six top-10s, including four seventh-place finishes ... Best start of the season (sixth) came at Sonoma.

1996 -- Finished 14th in series points in his first year with the Wood Brothers. ... Won All-Star Race at Charlotte, becoming the first driver to win the event after transferring from the qualifying race.

1995 -- Finished 12th in series points, tying his career-best set the prior season. ... Final season with Chuck Rider, ending an eight-year association. ... Had two top-five and six top-10 finishes.

1994 -- Finished 12th in series points, his career-best in the standings. ... Had two top-five and eight top-10 finishes. ... Best finish was third at Talladega.

1993 -- Finished 17th in series points. ... Posted five top-10 finishes, including a season-best seventh at Talladega in July.

1992 -- Finished 23rd in series points. ... One top-five and two top-10 finishes in a season of struggles that included eight DNFs.

1991 -- Finished 15th in series points, at the time his career-best. ... Earned first two poles of his series career within a four-race span (the July races at Dover and Michigan). ... Four top-fives and 12 top-10s.

1990 -- Finished 16th in series points. ... Five top-five finishes and 10 top-10s.

1989 -- Finished 18th in series points. ... Earned five top-10s despite nine DNFs in 29 starts.

1988 -- Finished 18th in points in first season driving for Chuck Rider. ... His runner-up finish at Pocono in June was a career-best effort at the time. ... Had one other top-10 finish.

1987 -- Finished 20th in series points. ... Earned first career top-10 with a 10th-place finish at the Martinsville spring race.

1986 -- Finished 19th in series points. ... First full season in the series, driving for Dick Bahre. ... Runner-up to Alan Kulwicki for rookie of the year honors. ... Best finish was 11th (Martinsville and Pocono).

1985 -- Finished 57th in series points. ... Ran only five races. ... First series start came in Coca-Cola 600, which was won by brother Darrell; Michael finished 28th.

PREVIOUS RACING HISTORY

Began racing go-karts in the mid-1970s and won numerous races. ... Started in stock cars in 1981. ... Kentucky Motor Speedway champion in mini-modified division. ... Won NASCAR Goody's Dash Series championship in 1983 and was named the series' most popular driver in 1983 and '84.

NOTEWORTHY

Cites winning NASCAR's All-Star Race in 1996 and a Busch Series race at Bristol in 1993 as top memories; he took a backward victory lap in memory of Alan Kulwicki at Bristol. ... An avid distance runner, Waltrip has competed in several marathons, including the prestigious Boston Marathon. He also had the honor of being a torch bearer in the 2002 Olympic Torch Relay to Salt Lake City. ... Waltrip lived with Richard and Lynda Petty when he first moved to North Carolina from his native Kentucky in order to establish himself in Cup racing. ... Younger brother of three-time series champion Darrell Waltrip. ... Avid Kentucky Wildcats football and basketball fan. ... Popular television commentator for several NASCAR-themed shows on SPEED.

Auction Donations - Tony Stewart & Ryan Newman

We would like to thank Nascar drivers Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman for their donation to our 2010 Angel Ball!

Tony Stewart Biography from Nascar.com

Birthday: May 20, 1971
Hometown: Columbus, Ind.

Stewart

YEAR-BY-YEAR CUP SERIES RECAP

2009 -- Finished sixth in series points. ... Won four races, his most since 2006 (five) ... Made the difficult transition to driver/owner without a drop in on-track performance. Won Stewart-Haas Racing's first event at the All- Star Race. ... Won points race at Pocono, Daytona (summer), Watkins Glen and Kansas. ... His win on June 7 was the first by a driver-owner since Ricky Rudd (Martinsville) on Sept. 27, 1998. ... A driver/owner had not led the points since Alan Kulwicki clinched the championship on Nov. 15, 1992, at Atlanta Motor Speedway. .. Win at Daytona on July 4 made him the first driver-owner to win multiple races in a season since Ricky Rudd (Dover and Indianapolis) in 1997. ... Led the standings for 13 weeks entering the final regular season race at Richmond, but entered the Chase seeded second to Mark Martin, who had four wins to Stewart's three at the time. ... Tied teammate Ryan Newman by completing 99.77 percent of laps run in 2009. (10,492 were run in 2009). ... Led the series with 370 points gained on road courses ... His 11-season win streak leads all active drivers.

2008 -- Finished ninth in series points. ... Posted one win, the 33rd of his career but his first at Talladega. ... Finished third in dramatic Daytona 500, losing lead on final lap to Ryan Newman -- his new teammate for 2009. ... Announced decision to leave Joe Gibbs Racing and become owner/driver for newly formed Stewart-Haas organization.

2007 -- Finished sixth in the series points. ... Earned three wins, 11 top-fives and 23 top-10s. ... Led 20 of 36 races for 980 laps. ... Won the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard for the second time in his career.

2006 -- Finished 11th in series points. ... Posted five wins, three of which (Kansas, Atlanta and Texas) were races during the Chase. ... Had 15 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes.

2005 -- Won second series championship. ... Ranked first in points heading into the Chase. ... Won five races (Sonoma, Daytona, New Hampshire, Indianapolis and Watkins Glen) over a seven-race stretch. ... His three poles were at Daytona (July), Watkins Glen and New Hampshire (September). ... The Daytona win was Stewart's first points-paying restrictor-plate victory. Won Gatorade Duel qualifying race at Daytona to earn fourth-place starting spot in the Daytona 500. ... Had seven top-10 finishes in the 10-race Chase, including three runner-up finishes.

2004 -- Finished sixth in series points. ... Entered the inaugural Chase in fourth place. ... Finished second in the Daytona 500 after leading 98 of 200 laps. ... Scored the first of two wins at Chicago after leading 160 of 267 laps. ... Enjoyed a mid-season run that included two wins and five top-fives in six races. ... Was caught up in an accident and finished 39th at New Hampshire, Round 1 of the Chase. ... Was one of four drivers in the top 10 all season.

2003 -- Finished seventh in series points. ... On par to defend series title after four top-10s in first five races, but a string of four DNFs and inconsistent finishes -- including consecutive finishes of 41st (Fontana), 41st (Richmond) and 40th (Charlotte) -- dropped him to 20th by late May. ... Won two races, Pocono in June and Charlotte in October. ... Rebounded late in the year with six consecutive top-fives (Dover through Atlanta) bumping him from 11th to seventh in series points. ... Won second career Truck Series race at Richmond in September. ... Signed contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing in September through 2009.

2002 -- Won series championship. ... Gave team owner Joe Gibbs his second championship in three seasons (Bobby Labonte in 2000 was Gibbs' other champion). ... Championship season marked the fourth consecutive season in the final top 10 in points. ... Won three races -- Atlanta in March, Richmond in May and Watkins Glen in August. ... Bounced back after last-place finish (43rd) in season-opening Daytona 500. ... Took lead in points after Talladega race in October. ... March to the top began at New Hampshire in July with the first of nine consecutive top-15 finishes. ... Clinched championship in season finale at Homestead with 18th-place finish; finished 31 points ahead of Mark Martin in the final standings.

2001 -- Finished second in series points, behind four-time champion Jeff Gordon. ... Started season by winning Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, a non-points event; that was his first victory in restrictor-plate racing. ... Won three series races. ... Won at Sonoma for first series road-course victory, with dramatic late-race pass of leader Robby Gordon. ... Also won at Richmond and at the Bristol night race. ... Completed 1,100 miles of racing on May 27, finishing sixth in the Indianapolis 500 and third in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.

2000 -- Finished sixth in series points. ... Won six races, including both Dover events. Also won at Michigan, New Hampshire, Martinsville and Homestead. ... Homestead win came on day that Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Bobby Labonte clinched series championship. ... Had streak of six consecutive top-10 finishes. ... Took two poles.

1999 -- Finished fourth in series points. ... Rookie of the year in first season with Joe Gibbs Racing. ... Won three races during great second half of season. ... First win at Richmond on Sept. 11, in 25th series start. ... Also won back-to-back events at Phoenix and Homestead. ... First series rookie to win three races. ... Had two poles, plus an outside pole for the season-opening Daytona 500. ... Finished second in All-Star Race after winning qualifying race. ... Raced in Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on May 30, finishing ninth at Indy and fourth at Charlotte.

PREVIOUS RACING HISTORY
In 1998, ran 22 Busch Series races for Joe Gibbs Racing, getting two poles and five top-five finishes; also in '98 ran full Indy Racing League schedule. ... Ran five Busch Series races for Gibbs in 1997. ... In 1996 ran nine Busch Series races for Ranier/Walsh Racing. ... Won Indy Racing League championship in 1997. ... Earned 1996 IRL rookie of the year; also Indianapolis 500 rookie of the year in '96 after taking the pole and leading the first 44 laps. ... In 1995 swept championships in United States Auto Club (USAC) Midget, Sprint Car and Silver Crown competition, the first driver to do so. ... Won 1994 USAC Midget national championship. ... In 1991, USAC Sprint Car rookie of the year. ... Won 1987 World Karting Association national title. ... In 1983, won International Karting Foundation Grand National title.

NOTEWORTHY
Stewart's World of Outlaws sprint car team won the 2001 series title with driver Danny Lasoski. ... Stewart's favorite driver is four-time Indy 500 champion A.J. Foyt. ... Appeared in a music video for rock band 3 Doors Down. ... Donated $1 million to Kyle and Pattie Petty and their Victory Junction Gang Camp in November 2003. ... As a team owner, won the USAC Triple Crown with driver J.J. Yeley. Purchased Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, in November 2004. ... Named 2004 NASCAR USG Driver of the Year for charitable efforts earning a $100,000 award which he donated to the Victory Junction Gang Camp ... Named USA Weekend Magazine's 2004 Most Caring Athletes along with NASCAR driver Kyle Petty.




Ryan Newman Biography from Nascar.com


Birthday: Dec. 8, 1977
Hometown: South Bend, Ind.

Newman

YEAR-BY-YEAR CUP SERIES RECAP

2009 -- Finished ninth in series points. ... Regained his status as a weekly threat in his first season with first-year Stewart-Haas Racing. ... Had a best finish of second in the Coca-Cola 600. ... Gained his footing after an inconsistent start to the season by finishing third (Talladega), fourth (Richmond and Darlington), second (Charlotte), eighth (Dover) and fifth (Pocono) in the spring to stand fourth in series points. ... Started the Chase seeded 10th, improved to seventh twice, the latest after finishing seventh at Martinsville with four races left. ... Led the series with 10,468 laps completed. ... Tied team owner/teammate Tony Stewart by completing 99.77 percent of laps run in 2009. (10,492 were run in 2009).

2008 -- Finished 17th in series points. ... Opened season by winning the 50th Daytona 500. ... Also had eight top-10 finishes and won one pole (Phoenix spring race). ... Eighth consecutive year with a pole. ... Announced exit from Penske Racing to drive for new Stewart-Haas organization.

2007 -- Finished 13th in series points. ... Earned five poles. ... Finished second three times (Dover, Pocono, Martinsville). ... Pole at Atlanta ended a drought of 20 races without a pole, the longest of his career. ... Won three consecutive poles at Charlotte, Dover and Pocono. ... Average start of 13.8 was fifth-best in the series.

2006 -- Finished 18th in series points. ... Won the pole at Dover in June and at New Hampshire in July.

2005 -- Finished sixth in series points. ... Fourth consecutive season leading series in poles (eight). ... Scored only win of season at New Hampshire, passing Tony Stewart on Lap 199 and holding the top spot by two cars-lengths. ... Qualified for the second Chase in 10th.

2004 -- Finished seventh in series points. ... Strong season slowed by nine DNFs. ... Led series with nine poles, including four consecutive from Charlotte through Phoenix. ... Held off Kasey Kahne at Michigan to score the first of two wins. ... Dominated in his second win at Dover in September leading 325 of 400 laps. ... Qualified for the inaugural Chase in 10th. ... Title hopes dashed by four DNFs in last 10 races.
2003 -- Finished sixth in series points. ... Led the series in wins (eight), poles (11) and miles led (1,509.13) ... Had five DNFs in the first half of the season. ... Finished 38th or worse in six of the first 15 races. ... Scored first win at Texas, but followed with a four-race skid of three DNFs and 39th-place finish at Richmond in May, leaving him 27th in series points. ... With a victory at Chicago in July, kicked off a 13-race hot streak that included six wins ... His series-high 11 poles, including three consecutive at Atlanta, Phoenix and Rockingham, was the most since Cale Yarborough's 14 poles in 1980. ... Finished with a series-high 17 top-fives.

2002 -- Finished sixth in series points. ... Topped Jimmie Johnson for rookie of the year honors in one of the most heated rookie battles in years. ... Set a rookie record with 22 top-10 finishes. ... Scored his first career win at New Hampshire in September in his 34th career start. ... Became just the second rookie to win the All-Star Race -- following Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2000. ... Led the series with six poles, setting a rookie record for most poles in a season, topping Davey Allison's five poles in 1987. ... Had 14 top-five finishes, second only to series champion Tony Stewart. ... Tied Stewart in races led (22).

2001 -- Finished 49th in series points. ... Scored first pole in third career Cup start, at Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, tying Mark Martin's record for earliest career pole. ... Competed in seven races with his best finish a second at Kansas. ... Also raced 15 times in Busch Series, winning one race

PREVIOUS RACING HISTORY
In 2000, made stock-car debut in ARCA race at Michigan, then won the next race he entered at Pocono. ... Also won ARCA races that year at Kentucky and Charlotte. ... In 1999, won USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series national championship with two wins and 12 top-10 finishes. ... Won seven times in midgets and once in sprint cars. ... Earned rookie of the year honors in Sprint Cars (1999), USAC Silver Crown (1996) and USAC National Midgets (1995). ... Was also the 1993 All-American Midget Series champion and rookie of the year.

NOTEWORTHY
Won the 50th anniversary Daytona 500 to open the 2008 season. ... Earned the nickname "Rocketman" after a series-high 11 poles in 2003. ... Is a member of the Quarter-Midget Hall of Fame. ... Started racing quarter midgets at age of 4-and-a-half. ... Graduated from Purdue University in August 2001 with a bachelor of science degree in vehicle structural engineering. ... Enjoys working on vintage cars and fishing.

Auction Donations - Julie Newmar

We are so grateful to actress Julie Newmar for this autographed photo of her in her Catwoman costume for our 2010 Angel Ball!

Date of Birth

16 August 1933, Los Angeles, California, USA

Birth Name

Julia Chalene Newmeyer

Height

5' 11" (1.80 m)

Mini Biography

Beauty, brains and a fantastic sense of humor. Julia Chalene Newmeyer (Chalane was her mother's maiden name) was born on August 16, 1933, in Los Angeles. Her father was a one-time professional football player (LA Buccaneers, 1926), her mother was a star of the Follies of 1920. From an early age, Julie studied piano, dance and classical ballet. She graduated from high school at the age of 15, and spent a year touring Europe with her mother and brother. Julie became prima ballerina for the Los Angeles Opera. She attended UCLA studying classical piano, philosophy and French. Julie went to New York and tried out for Broadway musicals; in 1955 Julie made her Broadway debut as the ballerina in "Silk Stockings." Julie won acclaim for her role as Stupefyin' Jones in "Li'l Abner." Though audiences and critics alike where stupefied by her good looks, that is not the compliment Julie wanted. Julie wanted to be known for her comedy, as she told the New York Times: "Tell me I'm funny, and it's the greatest compliment in the world." Promoting her various Broadway and off-Broadway show appearances, Julie often posed as a pinup girl. Making the transition to TV, Julie appeared in Rod Serling's science fiction series the "Twilight Zone" in 1963, playing Miss Devlin (devil). As physical perfection, Julie was perfect to play Rhoda the Robot in "My Living Doll, " the sitcom had an enthusiastic cult following. In 1966, urged on by her friends, she would try out for and be cast as Catwoman (a character she had never heard of) in the wildly popular TV series "Batman." Due to a movie commitment, Julie was unavailable to play TV's Catwoman in the 3rd season (her part was taken by Eartha Kitt). Julie was very busy in the 1960s and 1970s, making guest appearances in many TV shows and several TV-movies. Because of her love of the stage and live performances, Julie toured the country in stage productions of "Damn Yankees" and "Dames at Sea" and others. Becoming an entrepreneur, in 1977 Julie turned up in People Magazine wearing her new invention "Nudemar" pantyhose (due to an elastic back seam it provided fanny support). In the 1980s, Julie appeared in 9 films while she was busy raising her son and working in the real estate business. Julie went back to UCLA to take a few real estate courses. In 1991 Julie toured in a stage production of "The Women." Still very active, and very beautiful, Julie will appear at fan conventions occasionally.

Spouse

J. Holt Smith

(5 August 1977 - 1983) (divorced) 1 child

Trivia

I.Q. of 135. Graduated high school (Los Angeles' John Marshall High School) at age 15.
Invented and marketed her own brand of pantyhose in the 1970s & 1980s
Gave birth to her only child, a son, while she was in her late 40s.

Holds three U.S patents: 3,914,799 and 4,003,094 for "Pantyhose with shaping band for Cheeky derriere relief" and 3,935,865 for "Brassiere."

Measurements: 37-23-37 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

Has 37" legs (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

Graduated from John Marshall High School in Los Angeles in 1951

Has her name mentioned in the title of the comedy To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995), while the plot revolves, partly, around an autographed publicity photograph of her.

In November 2004, the former "Catwoman" had a different type of cat fight on her hands. Her next-door neighbor, actor James Belushi, sued her for $4 million alleging harassment and defamation of character. Their openly hostile neighborhood feud has been supposedly going on for years. Newmar, an avid community advocate who once fought restrictions against noisy leaf-blowers, once threw an egg at Belushi's house in retaliation for a noisy air conditioner. The suit includes vandalism and spying.
Her son John is deaf and has Downs Syndrome.

Was a friend of New York Mets pitcher Tracy Stallard, the man who as a member of the Boston Red Sox gave up Roger Maris' record-breaking 61st home run in 1961.

Accepted Worst Picture for Catwoman (2004) at the 25th Annual RAZZIE Awards.

Was the first actress to portray the DC comics character Catwoman in a live action adaptation of the Batman series.

Won the 1959 Tony Award (New York City) for Supporting or Features Actress in a Drama for "The Marriage-Go-Round".

Julie Newmar played in New York City with Hildegarde Neff in the Musical: "Silk Stockings".

Personal Quotes

I'm magnificent! I'm 5'11" and I weigh 135 pounds, and I look like a racehorse.
Tell me I'm beautiful, it's nothing. Tell me I'm intellectual - I know it. Tell me I'm funny and it's the greatest compliment in the world anyone could give me.

[on how she got her most famous role, Catwoman on "Batman" (1966)] I had lived in New York at the time on Beekman Place. I remember it was a weekend, Friday or Saturday, and my brother had come down from Harvard with five or six of his friends, and we were all sitting around the sofa, just chatting away, when the phone rang. I got up and answered it, and it was this agent or someone in Hollywood, who said, "Miss Newmar, would you like to play Catwoman on the 'Batman' series? They are casting it out here." I was insulted because he said, "It starts Monday." I said, "What is this?" That's how television is done: they never know what they are doing until yesterday. Well, my brother leaped off the sofa. I mean he physically levitated and said, " 'Batman'! That's the favorite show at Harvard. We all quit our classes and quit our studies and run into the TV room and watch this show." I said, "They want me to play Catwoman." He said, "Do it!" So, I said, "OK, I'll do it."

It was so wonderful being on "Batman" (1966) because you could be nasty and mean, and in the '50S women could never--unless you were some 'B' picture actress--be mean, bad, and nasty. It was so satisfying; I can't tell you how satisfying it was.

[interview in Star Trek Magaazine, #1, Sept./Oct. 2006] "Star Trek" (1966)--oh my goodness, what a following that show has! I get asked about it all the time, and I receive lots of fan mail from it, even though I only did one episode.

(July 2008) Today, I walk - but very slowly. My balance is also affected. People might think I've had too much to drink, but I never drank, smoked or took drugs my entire life. If I'm out in public, I grab on to some charming, darling fellow who can steady me. I've been encouraged by the many men who have offered me their shoulders.

On Catwoman fans: It's an honor --- it really is -- that something stays for so long with people in the sweet depths of their feelings.

On seeing a Catwoman tattoo: I've seen some interesting flesh...It wasn't just the Catwoman. It was me.
Whenever I'm stopped on the street, men tell, 'Ms Newmar, did you know that you were my first turn-on?...How old were you?

Auction Donations - Janet Leigh

We are so grateful to the family of actress Janet Leigh for this autographed photo for our 2010 Angel Ball!

Biography from IMDB.com

Date of Birth

6 July 1927, Merced, California, USA

Date of Death

3 October 2004, Beverly Hills, California, USA (vasculitis)

Birth Name

Jeanette Helen Morrison

Height

5' 5½" (1.66 m)

Mini Biography

Janet Leigh was the only child of a couple who often moved from town to town. Living in apartments, Janet was a bright child who skipped several grades and finished high school when she was 15. A lonely child, she would spend much of her time at movie theaters. She was a student, studying music and psychology, at the University of the Pacific until she was "discovered" while visiting her parents in Northern California. Her father was working the desk at a ski resort where her mother worked as a maid. Retired MGM actress Norma Shearer saw a picture of Janet on the front desk and asked if she could borrow it. This led to a screen test at MGM and a starring role in The Romance of Rosy Ridge (1947). MGM was looking for a young naive country girl and Janet filled the bill perfectly. She would play the young ingénue in a number of films and work with such stars as Errol Flynn, Gary Cooper, James Stewart, Orson Welles and Judy Garland. She appeared in a number of successful films, including Little Women (1949), Angels in the Outfield (1951), Scaramouche (1952), Houdini (1953) and The Black Shield of Falworth (1954), among others. Janet would appear in a variety of films, from comedies to westerns to musicals to dramas. Of her more than 50 movies, she would be remembered for the 45 minutes that she was on the screen in the small-budget thriller Psycho (1960). Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, this 1960 classic would include the shower scene that would become a film landmark. Even though her character is killed off early in the picture, she would be nominated for an Academy Award and receive a Golden Globe. Her next film would be The Manchurian Candidate (1962), in which she starred with Frank Sinatra. For the rest of the decade, her appearances in films would be rare, but she worked with Paul Newman in Harper (1966). In the 1970s she appeared on the small screen in a number of made-for-TV movies.

Spouse

Robert Brandt	(15 September 1962 - 3 October 2004) (her death)
Tony Curtis	(4 June 1951 - June 1962) (divorced) 2 children
Stanley Reames	(1946 - 1948) (divorced)
John Kenneth Carlisle	(1942 - 1942) (annulled)

Trivia

Was 'discovered' by Norma Shearer from a photo on the desk of Janet's father.
Mother of Jamie Lee Curtis and Kelly Curtis.

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#99). [1995]
Eloped at the age of 14 - marriage was later annulled. Thus, Tony Curtis was her 3rd husband when she married him in her 20s.

Measurements: 36C-21-36 (in 1953), 35 1/2-23-36 (measured in 1960s), (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

Actually made Touch of Evil (1958), with a broken arm. Her arm was in a cast when she showed up for production, so they took her arm out of the cast and used every trick they could to hide it.

She was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree at University of the Pacific in Stockton, California on May 14, 2004. She delivered an inspirational speech to graduating students, faculty, and administrators in accepting her award. Author Maxine Hong Kingston and US Solicitor General Ted Olson were also awarded honorary degrees on the same day.

Graduated from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.

She and her actress daughter Jamie Lee Curtis appear together in John Carpenter's The Fog (1980), though they do not meet until the film's end. They also appear together in Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) early in the film when Janet reports to Jamie on a problem with the girls' shower at a private school.
In 2006, the city of Stockton, California renamed and dedicated a downtown cinema and plaza in her honor. "Janet Leigh Plaza" is in the central core of the redeveloped downtown 2 blocks away from the "Bob Hope Theater".

In Italy, most of her films were dubbed by either Renata Marini or Rosetta Calavetta. She was occasionally dubbed by Germana Calderini, Dhia Cristiani, Micaela Giustiniani and Fiorella Betti.
Daughter of Frederick Robert Morrison and wife Helen Lita Westergard.

Interviewed in Tom Weaver's book "Science Fiction Stars and Horror Heroes" (McFarland & Co., 1991).
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 326-329. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007.

Personal Quotes

[when asked if it was true that she doesn't take showers] It's actually, honestly true. And not because of the shooting of it. It was the seeing of it. It never dawned on me how truly vulnerable we are. But that's what [Alfred Hitchcock] did. A shower. A bird. All these things that are absolutely ordinary, he made extraordinary.

Psycho (1960) gave me very wrinkled skin. I was in that shower for seven days - 70 setups. At least, he [Alfred Hitchcock] made sure the water was warm.
I don't know what it is I exude. But whatever it is, it's whatever I am!

[on working with Alfred Hitchcock on Psycho (1960)] Hitch relished scaring me. When we were making "Psycho," he experimented with the mother's corpse, using me as his gauge. I would return from lunch, open the door to the dressing room and propped up in my chair would be this hideous monstrosity. The horror in my scream, registered on his Richter scale, decided which dummy he'd use as the Madame.
[on her Psycho (1960) co-star, the late Anthony Perkins] To me he was a leading man. But to the rest of the world, he'll always be "Norman Bates". People just wouldn't let him be anything else.

Auction Donations - Betty White

We are so thankful to actress Betty White for the donation of an autographed photo for our 2010 Angel Ball!

Biography from IMDB.com


Date of Birth
17 January 1922, Oak Park, Illinois, USA

Birth Name
Betty Marion White

Height
5' 4" (1.63 m)

Mini Biography

Although best known as the devious Sue Ann Nivens on the classic sitcom "Mary Tyler Moore" (1970) and the ditzy Rose Nylund on "The Golden Girls" (1985), Betty White had been in television for a long, long time before those two shows, having had her own series, "Life with Elizabeth" (1952) in 1952. The widow of TV game-show host Allen Ludden, she has been inducted into the Television Hall of Fame and is known for her tireless efforts on behalf of animals.
IMDb Mini Biography By: A. Nonymous

Spouse
Allen Ludden (14 June 1963 - 9 June 1981) (his death)
Lane Allan (8 November 1947 - 1949) (divorced)
Frederick R. (Dick) Barker (9 July 1945 - December 1945) (divorced)

Trivia

Received the Women's International Center (WIC) Living Legacy Award in 1988.

Started career as the "Phone Girl" on Al Jarvis's afternoon TV show in L.A.

James L. Brooks offered her the role of Helen Hunt's mother in As Good as It Gets (1997). She turned it down because she objected to the treatment of the dog in the film.

Beloved frequent guest celebrity/panelist on numerous game shows, including every version of "Password All-Stars" (1961), "The Hollywood Squares" (1965), "Match Game 73" (1973), "The $20,000 Pyramid" (1973), and countless others.

Per her autobiography, White was named "Betty" at birth not "Elizabeth" because her parents did not want her to be saddled with any of the nicknames and derivatives of Elizabeth -- i.e. Beth, Liza, Ellie, etc.

Moved to Los Angeles when she was only two years old.

Played the same character, Rose Nylund, on four different TV series: "The Golden Palace" (1992), "The Golden Girls" (1985), "Nurses" (1991), and "Empty Nest" (1988).

Is an avid Animal Rights activist and is a sponsor for Farm Animal Reform Movement and Friends of Animals.

Attended the same high school as Angelina Jolie, Michael Klesic, Nicolas Cage, Lenny Kravitz, David Schwimmer, Jonathan Silverman, Gina Gershon, Rhonda Fleming, Jackie Cooper, Rob Reiner, Antonio Sabato Jr., Pauly Shore, Michael Tolkin, Corbin Bernsen, Elizabeth Daily, Albert Brooks, and Crispin Glover.

Is strongly critical of reality television.

Admits to having surgery before "The Golden Girls" (1985), even though the program was about growing old and not having a problem with it.

Parents' names were Horace and Tess White.

Is of German and Greek ancestry.

Is an avid animal welfare activist and works with a number of organizations; including the Los Angeles Zoo Commission, the Morris Animal Foundation, and Actors & Others for Animals.

Betty was originally considered for the role of the sexpot, "Blanche," on "The Golden Girls" (1985). However, Betty had already been the aggressive "Sue Ann Nivens" on "Mary Tyler Moore" (1970) and Rue McClanahan had played the introverted "Vivian" on "Maude" (1972). It was thought best not to have these two actresses reprise similar characters. Therefore, Betty got the part of naive "Rose Nylund" and Rue played the oversexed "Blanche".

Was portraying the conniving, gold-digging Ellen Harper, the niece of Rue McClanahan, who played the prudish Aunt Fran, On "Mama's Family" (1983) at the same time as they were working together on "The Golden Girls" (1985) in almost opposite roles.

Attended the same school as Jamie Luner.

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1988. The star is next to her late husband, Allen Ludden,'s star.

Made several appearances on "Santa Barbara" (1984) as part of a contest.

In 1955, Betty was the honorary mayor of Hollywood, California.

With Rue McClanahan's death in June 2010, White became the last surviving member of the four "The Golden Girls" (1985).