Support Emporia Golf Tournament Nets $150K 

EMPORIA, Kan. (May 7, 2008) - The inaugural Clint Bowyer Support Emporia golf tournament was a rousing success and netted $150,000 for the Emporia Community Foundation.

Bowyer, along with former World of Outlaws Champion Danny Lasoski and several local dignitaries, were on hand for the event which is scheduled to be an annual fundraiser supporting Bowyer’s hometown.

Thirty six foursomes teed off May 6 at Emporia Municipal Golf Course and, following 18 holes of spirited competition, headed for the Emporia Civic Auditorium for a dinner and live auction with all the proceeds going to the ECF.

The ECF is a collection of separate funds and resources given by caring citizens who have chosen to make their community a better place to work and live, now and in the future. The ECF is a tax-deductible charity and qualifies under the IRS rules governing 501(c)3 charities. The funds collected from the generosity of the community will go toward education, child programs, elder care and recreation in Emporia and surrounding areas.

Some of the items auctioned off included an autographed set of wine bottles from Richard Childress, an autographed driving uniform from two-time Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart, a hood from the Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet and the helmet Bowyer wore during his rookie season which generated a winning bid of $8,500.

“I’m really excited about how much we raised and how smoothly everything ran,” said Bowyer.

“Emporia is such a great city and it means so much to me to give back to my hometown. The town just lost 1,800 jobs so there is a big hole right now. I think we did something that can truly make a difference and it’s something that everybody in Emporia should feel good about. It was great to see a lot of old and new friends. Everyone’s generosity was really overwhelming.”

The following night, Bowyer visited his former stomping grounds of Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City where he raced his Jack Daniel’s-sponsored No. 07 dirt late model.

Immediately following a night of racing at Lakeside, Bowyer flew to Darlington S.C. where the NASCAR Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series will compete this weekend. Bowyer will race his No. 2 BB&T Chevy Monte Carlo SS on Friday night and the No. Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet Impala SS on Saturday.

The Diamond Hill Plywood 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race from Darlington Raceway will take the green flag Friday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The race will be televised live on ESPN2 and broadcast on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius Satellite Radio.

Flag to flag coverage of the Dodge Challenger 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race will be televised live on FOX Saturday, May 10 beginning at 7 p.m. EDT. The race will be broadcast live on MRN and Sirius Satellite Radio. Live television coverage of qualifying for the 11th race on the 2008 schedule will take the green flag Friday, May 9 at 5 p.m. EDT on SPEED. MRN and Sirius Satellite Radio will provide live qualifying updates.