Race fans in Central Indiana have the chance to meet some of racing’s stars next weekend when former Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires champion turned team owner Jay Howard hosts Karting for One Cure: A Celebrity Karting Enduro at K1 Speed in Fishers, Ind. on Sunday, January 27.
The evening karting event will feature 10 teams of five drivers – including one pro driver – competing for top honors, plus a silent auction. All proceeds will benefit Colorado State University’s One Cure program. The One Cure initiative, launched in 2011, works on the “comparative oncology” approach, supporting research findings and treatments for cancer in both animals and humans. Scientists have discovered remarkable similarities between cancers across species, leading to collaborations on research and treatment.
Howard, who won the 2005 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship and the 2006 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires title, joined with One Cure in 2017 as driver of the Team One Cure entry in the 101st Indianapolis 500, through a partnership between the Tony Stewart Foundation and Schmidt Peterson Motorsports.
“I connected with them years ago when I was working with The Tony Stewart Foundation,” said Howard. “It’s a perfect fit for me – I love animals, and the more I learned about what One Cure does, the more interested I became. For example, bone cancer in a dog and in a human looks very similar at the cellular level, so it’s amazing to see how treatments can cross over. The people there are passionate about what they’re doing and we’re happy to be able to help.”
The karting event features an impressive list of pro drivers, most with Road to Indy credentials, including Jack Harvey, Pippa Mann, Zach Veach, Conor Daly and Spencer Pigot, just to name a few. Spots are still available in the karting event, and fans are encouraged to come out and watch the action – and support One Cure.
“All proceeds will go to CSU’s One Cure initiative, which relies on private funding for their research and trials. We’re trying to help the best we can. I love what they’re all about. The idea of being able to cure cancer in animals and in people is very cool. I’ve been fortunate to be their spokesperson for some time and I’ll continue to support them however I can.
“Even some of the guys on the Motorsports Driver Development team have entered, which is great. It will be a lot of fun and it’s for a good cause. We do still have driver spots open, but fans are welcome to come out and support us as well!”For more information, go to the Celebrity Karting Enduro to Benefit One Cure.