Chris Throgmartin

This special night proved once and for all that race car drivers will race just as hard whether they get paid or not. The USPRO Racing Series put on a special benefit race Sunday night September 7, 2003 at Spartan Speedway for series’ former vice president/race director Chris Throgmartin. The USPRO Cup " Throgmartin 50 " was a non-points race with proceeds going into the Stock Car Racers Foundation which will help cover Chris’ bone marrow medical treatment program and also for future drivers and race officials who need assistance because of illness or injury. All drivers and series officials donated their earnings for the race into this fund. The race itself was the brain child and was spearheaded by Ron Varney, owner and President of the USPRO series.

The grandstands were packed with race fans who turned out to watch the evenings race events and Chris Throgmartin made the trip up from Bristol, TN to be there in person. Chris was pleasantly surprised to walk into the pit area and see the racers car's adorned with special decals produced by his long time friends Mark & Lisa Kortz. " I just couldn't believe it when I seen them. I really got choked up when I seen those decals and all the drivers smiling who had them on their cars. It was a special idea Mark and Lisa came up with and I really appreciated it ", Throgmartin said.

The race was developed and orchestrated by the USPRO Cup family of drivers and officials who arranged the donations through drivers and race fans alike. Spartan Speedway Owners Paul Zimmerman, Jim Leisure and Bill Lackey went out of their way and made the day special for Chris.  " I  could never describe the great feeling I have inside me to have been honored with such a special day like this. Everyone worked so hard and made this day such a wonderful memory. Friend's Paulie, Jim and Bill were just great and they have no idea how much this meant to me and my family. The donations will surely help defray some of the medical and travel costs to Seattle but just having all my friends show up for this special event was spectacular. I just can never thank these people enough", Throgmartin added.

The 50 lap event was special for Throgmartin in many ways. Ted Carpenter designed a special edition coloring book for kids in honor of Chris. These were given out during an autograph session held in the grandstand / public area. Chris attended the session and signed autographs for race fans. At the request of Ted, Chris also   signed every copy of the coloring books that were produced. In addition, Mark and Lisa Kortz presented the hood off his Ford Taurus race car to Chris and emblazoned across the entire hood was Chris picture and the autographs and get well wishes of all the drivers.  Friends and drivers from as far away as Florida attended the race to show support for Chris and  to wish him good luck in his battle with his disease. Before the event, Chris stood atop a trailer and addressed the USPRO Cup drivers during their drivers meeting. As always, he harassed the drivers and crew members and creating laughter by making his trademark off handed comments and jokes. At the close of the meeting he promised the group that he would continue to fight the disease hard and make a come back. The entire group clapped and cheered as Chris made his statement.

Other highlights of the race included an appearance of a specially designed 2-seat ASA race car owned by a friend from Chris' ASA race days, Dave Sensiba. He sent the car over from Grand Rapids to act as the official pace car for the USPRO event with Chris acting as the events Grand Marshall riding in the second - passenger side seat of the race car. Long time friends and track announcers Ed Inloes and Greg Yost co-announced the event which made the event even more special. At the end of the race Chris made it to victory lane and presented the winning trophy to Mike Carter in addition to presenting trophies to the second and third place finishers in a heart wrenching ceremony.

" This is a memory I will cherish and carry with me forever. It was something I have never experienced before and will never forget. It meant the world to me to see all these people there and to hear the fans yelling and screaming in support of my battle with this disease when details were announced over the PA system. The entire event was amazing and I give my heartfelt thanks to each and everyone of the great people who were involved ", a tearful Throgmartin said.

** Click on the Images below to enlarge **

Chris' Special Edition USPRO Cup Coloring Book

A Very Special Thanks to my good  friend Skip Konkle and his company JSK promotions for supplying all of the photos listed above.