Post by blackcrowheart on Feb 21, 2006 14:51:48 GMT -5
Crewman's mom gave driver chance
By BOB ZELLER
www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Speed/NextelCup/racN\
EXT02021906.htm
<http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Speed/NextelCup/rac\
NEXT02021906.htm>
DAYTONA BEACH -- The Miccosukee Resort Dodge driven by Mike Wallace is
not the only Native American-sponsored car in today's Daytona 500.
The large, round, blue and yellow decal on the deck lid of
KirkShelmerdine's Chevrolet features the outline of a Buffalo and calls
attention to an otherwise unassuming organization named the Minnesota
Mdewakanton Dakota Oyate organization.
But the story of how the decal ended up on Shelmerdine's car is not
about agents, handlers, marketing experts or attorneys. It is about a
mother's love for her son, and her son's love for racing.
Veteran crewman Mike Feezor has known Shelmerdine since Kirk was 18, and
he's been involved with the driver's efforts to make it in the Nextel
Cup series. According to Feezor, four years ago, "We put some things
together for Daytona and they all fell apart, like, 10 days before we
had to be here. I called my mom and she said, 'What's wrong?' I told
her, 'We lost our sponsor and I guess we're going to have to stay at
home.' "
Winifred Feezor asked her son, "What's it going to cost?"
"I got no idea, but I know it's going to be a bunch of money," Mike
Feezor replied.
"I'm coming down to the shop," Mrs. Feezor told her son. "Just stay
there until I get there."
When she arrived, Winifred Feezor wrote a check to Shelmerdine for
$50,000, and he was able to make the trip. She did it again in 2004, and
wrote another check last year.
On Nov. 17, Winifred Feezor passed away at age 72. But about four days
before her death, one of the last things she told her son was, "You make
sure Kirk gets his money for the race this year. You've got to go one
more time." And with the $60,000 that she provided, under the auspices
of the Minnesota Mdewakanton Dakota Oyate, Shelmerdine was able to
return to Daytona.
This year, he made the race.
Shelmerdine was able to visit Mrs. Feezor before she died at her home in
Briar Lake, Minn.
"I remember her telling stories about when she was a little girl," he
said. "Her grandparents lived in a teepee there on that same land where
they live in Minnesota now. She knew how much her son loved racing and
how long he'd been with it and how long he's been helping me and been a
friend of mine. She could tell how badly he wanted to be here and make
this race. She wanted that for him and for herself as well.
"She was not so much of a race fan, but she was a big fan of her
children and a big fan of Kirk. She kinda' didn't make it long enough to
see this personally, but maybe now she can ride with us."
By BOB ZELLER
www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Speed/NextelCup/racN\
EXT02021906.htm
<http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Speed/NextelCup/rac\
NEXT02021906.htm>
DAYTONA BEACH -- The Miccosukee Resort Dodge driven by Mike Wallace is
not the only Native American-sponsored car in today's Daytona 500.
The large, round, blue and yellow decal on the deck lid of
KirkShelmerdine's Chevrolet features the outline of a Buffalo and calls
attention to an otherwise unassuming organization named the Minnesota
Mdewakanton Dakota Oyate organization.
But the story of how the decal ended up on Shelmerdine's car is not
about agents, handlers, marketing experts or attorneys. It is about a
mother's love for her son, and her son's love for racing.
Veteran crewman Mike Feezor has known Shelmerdine since Kirk was 18, and
he's been involved with the driver's efforts to make it in the Nextel
Cup series. According to Feezor, four years ago, "We put some things
together for Daytona and they all fell apart, like, 10 days before we
had to be here. I called my mom and she said, 'What's wrong?' I told
her, 'We lost our sponsor and I guess we're going to have to stay at
home.' "
Winifred Feezor asked her son, "What's it going to cost?"
"I got no idea, but I know it's going to be a bunch of money," Mike
Feezor replied.
"I'm coming down to the shop," Mrs. Feezor told her son. "Just stay
there until I get there."
When she arrived, Winifred Feezor wrote a check to Shelmerdine for
$50,000, and he was able to make the trip. She did it again in 2004, and
wrote another check last year.
On Nov. 17, Winifred Feezor passed away at age 72. But about four days
before her death, one of the last things she told her son was, "You make
sure Kirk gets his money for the race this year. You've got to go one
more time." And with the $60,000 that she provided, under the auspices
of the Minnesota Mdewakanton Dakota Oyate, Shelmerdine was able to
return to Daytona.
This year, he made the race.
Shelmerdine was able to visit Mrs. Feezor before she died at her home in
Briar Lake, Minn.
"I remember her telling stories about when she was a little girl," he
said. "Her grandparents lived in a teepee there on that same land where
they live in Minnesota now. She knew how much her son loved racing and
how long he'd been with it and how long he's been helping me and been a
friend of mine. She could tell how badly he wanted to be here and make
this race. She wanted that for him and for herself as well.
"She was not so much of a race fan, but she was a big fan of her
children and a big fan of Kirk. She kinda' didn't make it long enough to
see this personally, but maybe now she can ride with us."