ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (April 16, 2019) — The 8th Annual Kart 4 Kids Pro-Am Race was held in downtown St. Petersburg on March 6 within the footprint of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The 2019 race raised $185,000, bringing the eight-year total to $596,000 to provide critical, patient care equipment for Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.
IndyCar driver and St. Petersburg resident, Sébastien Bourdais, and Porsche factory driver, Patrick Long, headlined the event. Participants also included Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Simon Pagenaud, James French, James Hinchliffe, Kyle Kaiser, Kyle Masson, Ben Hanley, Matheus Leist, Ethan Low, Santino Ferrucci, Colton Herta, Trent Hindman, Felix Rosenqvist, Spencer Pumpelly, Zach Veach, Patricio O’Ward, Tristan Vautier, and Jan Heylen. They joined local amateurs to race around the temporary kart track on the airport runway.
“This is a great way to kick-off the IndyCar year,” said Sebastien Bourdais. “There are a few guys that take the kart race a little bit too seriously, but everybody is just happy to participate and raise money for a great cause.”
Drivers also donated memorabilia for an auction that included signed race-worn helmets, fire suits, shoes, and gloves, along with autographed merchandise and other non-racing items.
“We are so grateful for the support of the drivers, sponsors, spectators and planning committee that make Kart 4 Kids the second-largest community fund raiser for the Foundation,” said Jenine Rabin, Executive Vice President, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation. “Each year, the funds raised from this event allow us to purchase several important pieces of equipment necessary to deliver the best care for the toughest pediatric cases.”
Additional sponsors of the event include Firestone, CardioAccess, Andersen Racepark, Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, INDYCAR, Bert Smith Porsche, Crown Cars, CSI, Dayle Coyne Racing, The Dikman Company, Downs Foods, Honda, Pinstripe Marketing, Rally Stores, Reeves Porsche, SB Tactical, Tornello Nurseries, and Vasser & Sullivan.
Photos and video from the event are available on Dropbox. Please credit Kart 4 Kids, Inc.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/x2h2lsredsv2yt9/AADQrAxjvC4q5sRX_soOdbiha?dl=0
For further information, visit kart4kids.org or contact David Bassett at dhb944t@yahoo.com or Page Obenshain at page6532@gmail.com.
ABOUT KART 4 KIDS
Kart 4 Kids Inc is a 501(c)3 organization established to raise money for Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital by organizing the Kart 4 Kids Pro-Am Kart Race. The all-volunteer staff means that All Children’s receives all proceeds net of direct race expenses. Now in its 8th year, the Pro-Am kart race was started in 2012 to honor the memory of IndyCar driver and St. Petersburg resident Dan Wheldon, who had tragically perished in a racing accident. Starting with American Porsche factory driver, Patrick Long as its only professional driver in the first race, the race has been embraced and supported by many of the best racing professionals in IndyCar, IMSA, and Pirelli World Challenge, among other series. Patrick has been joined by early supporter Sebastien Bourdais as the two featured drivers. From its small start, the Kart 4 Kids Pro-Am Hosted by Andersen Racepark, Featuring Sebastian Bourdais and Patrick Long has become one of Johns Hopkins All Children’s top third-party fund raisers by donating $185,000 in 2019. For more information visit www.Kart4kKds.org, ‘like’ its Facebook page at Kart4Kids Pro-Am Kart Race, or follow the race on Twitter @kart4kidsproam.
ABOUT FIRESTONE GRAND PRIX OF ST PETERSBURG
The 15th annual Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is a race event held during Florida’s spring break season each March. As the NTT IndyCar Series’ season-opening race for the ninth consecutive year, St. Pete is a destination city hosting this annual motorsport tradition and offering a festival atmosphere with its downtown location. The temporary circuit is a 1.8-mile, 14-turn configuration using the streets circling Pioneer Park, the Duke Energy Center for the Arts, The Dali Museum and extending onto the runways at Albert Whitted Airport, which overlooks the waterfront of Tampa Bay and picturesque St. Petersburg Harbor and Marina. Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is owned and operated by Green Savoree Racing Promotions, which also promotes three additional IndyCar races, Honda Indy Toronto (July 12-14, 2019), The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (July 26-28, 2019) and Grand Prix of Portland (August 30-September 1, 2019).
For more information, visit gpstpete.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page at @GPSTPETE or follow the event on Twitter @GPSTPETE and Instagram @GPSTPETE using #FirestoneGP.