An excerpt from Lara Tallman’s blog yesterday (1/22/12):

“It is beautiful and it runs, but it is only 99% finished and we just ran out of time to complete that last 1% that would get us in the game. . .

The decision was made about 1 am this morning to call it off. “

When I read the entire blog post, tears came to my eyes. This is why we started Race4Girls. If my heart broke for her, I can’t imagine how she felt when that decision needed to be made. The good news is she knows she can make the next race. But going to Daytona – that dream is not going to happen this year.

The number of stories I have heard that have a similar ending are many.  For example, Megan Reitenour’s family basically spent every available dime to try and keep her in a ride.  A girl with a story called Passion and Struggle by Greg Palmer, Megan spent most of 2011 trying to get the attention of someone in Charlotte.  She is now licensed to start racing short tracks in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series…but she needs a sponsor and a ride.

There’s an 18 year old girl who runs Late Models on Dirt in Kansas City, KS at Lakeside Speedway – until now.  Her racing operation was housed in a barn on some land.  There was a fire.  There was no insurance. A.J. Tice told me last week she will be back somehow in 2012.

I could go on with the stories but the point is not to make the reader feel sorry for these girls.  They will all find a way to persevere.  They always do.  If you want to help make it a little easier for them just go to www.race4girls.com and make a donation.  With every $5.00 we get closer to making life easier for the drivers who are part of this program in 2012.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far. We have a long ways to go, but you can take comfort in knowing that every penny you contribute (minus the PayPal fee) is going to the drivers!