Wed, 29 Sep 2010, 12:44 PM 20 Years After Big Game, Gwynn to Return Favor

Courtesy of Evan Jones

MOHNTON, Pa. -- Darrell Gwynn remembered how much of a lift he got when he visited Reading in 1990.

It was just months after a serious crash left him paralyzed from the waist down and Gwynn was moved to see the thousands of spectators at FirstEnergy Stadium to see NHRA and NASCAR racers get together to play a softball game for his benefit.

The record crowd of over 13,000 helped raise $150,000 for Gwynn's medical bills. It was an unforgettable night, one that's still talked about 20 years later.

With that anniversary at hand, Gwynn wants to return the favor to Berks County.

The Darrell Gwynn Foundation will be donating a wheel chair to a deserving Berks resident as part of many festivities when the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals returns to Maple Grove Raceway on Oct. 7-10.

"Reading is a very special place to me," Gwynn said. "The fans in Pennsylvania are some of the greatest in the world. I'm glad to be coming back and receiving this honor."

The weekend kicks off with an All-Star Salute to Darrell Gwynn on Thursday, Oct. 7 at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Wyomissing at 7 p.m. Several past and present stars of the NHRA will be on hand to sign autographs and talk about the big game, which the drag racers won 21-20. There will also be a memorabilia silent auction.

The 2010 Maple Grove Raceway Walk of Fame will be attendance that evening, including Darwin Doll, Dallas Gardner, Steve Gibbs, Darrell Gwynn, Jerry Gwynn, Kenny Koretsky and Jack Redd.

Several NHRA racers are expected to appear, including many contending for this year's Countdown to the Championship.

This list includes: Jack Beckman, Antron Brown, Ron Capps, Larry Dixon, Cory McClenanthan, Matt Hagan, Tony Pedregon, Allen Johnson, Steve Johnson, Clay Millican, Greg Stanfield and Bob Tasca along with legends Joe Amato and Koretsky.

Additional names will be announced when they are confirmed.

Tickets for the event are $20, which all goes to the Gwynn Foundation. The price also includes finger foods. Tickets can be purchased by calling Maple Grove Raceway at (610) 856-9200.

Fans attending the Nationals on Sunday will have the opportunity to walk the track in the morning with Gwynn, who will be driving an electric-powered dragster, before the eliminations begin. The $20 donation will also go toward the foundation.

At that time, Gwynn will also present the wheel chair.

To learn more about the Darrell Gwynn Foundation, visit www.darrellgwynnfoundation.com or call Erica Woods, program services coordinator, at (954) 792-7333 ext. 112.

For more information, contact Maple Grove Raceway at (610) 856-9200 or visit www.maplegroveraceway.com.

Top Fuelers Tony Schumacher, Tommy Johnson Jr. Added to Gwynn Salute List

An already prestigious list of drivers attending the All-Star Salute to Darrell Gwynn just got bigger.

Seven-time NHRA Full Throttle Series Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher and veteran racer Tommy Johnson Jr. will be among the active and retired drivers scheduled to appear at the Salute, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Wyomissing, Pa.

This list includes: Jack Beckman, Antron Brown, Ron Capps, Larry Dixon, Cory McClenanthan, Matt Hagan, Tony Pedregon, Allen Johnson, Steve Johnson, Clay Millican, Greg Stanfield and Bob Tasca along with legends Joe Amato and Kenny Koretsky.

Additional names will be announced when they are confirmed.

Schumacher, Johnson and the others will be on hand to sign autographs. Drivers like Koretsky and Amato will talk about the big game, which was played 20 years ago between NHRA and NASCAR drivers and raised $150,000 for Gwynn’s medical bills. There will also be a memorabilia auction.

The 2010 Maple Grove Raceway Walk of Fame will be attendance that evening, including Darwin Doll, Dallas Gardner, Steve Gibbs, Darrell Gwynn, Jerry Gwynn, Kenny Koretsky and Jack Redd.

Tickets for the event are $20, which all goes to the Gwynn Foundation. The price also includes finger foods. Tickets can be purchased by calling Maple Grove Raceway at (610) 856-9200, or at the door the night of the event.

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