SPORTS WORLD RALLIES TO RAISE MONEY FOR DRIVER'S FAMILY DIXON SPEARHEADS RUSSELL FUND-RAISER.Byline: Tim Haddock Staff Writer POMONA - Darrell and Julie Russell had just finished building their ranch house on 11 acres in Hockley, Texas For the county in west Texas, see . Hockley, Texas is an unincorporated community located in Harris County, Texas approximately 5 miles southeast of Waller and thirty-six miles northwest of Houston city limits on State Highway 6. . Julie Russell quit her job as a schoolteacher so the couple could start a family. Darrell Russell Darrell Russell can be either:
The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Top Fuel driver, had finally secured enough money for the two of them to start living the life of which they dreamed: raising kids, show horses and miniature donkeys on a Texas ranch. Then tragedy struck. Darrell Russell was killed in a crash during the Sears Craftsman NHRA NHRA National Hot Rod Association NHRA Northland Human Resource Association NHRA National Human Resources Association NHRA Nursing Home Reform Act NHRA National Hospice Regatta Alliance NHRA National Heritage Resources Act (South Africa) Finals at Gateway International Raceway Gateway International Raceway is a race track in Madison, Illinois, USA, just minutes from Downtown St. Louis, Mo. It hosts a NASCAR Busch Series event and a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on a 1. in Illinois in June. It was the first fatality at an NHRA event in eight years. Five months later, and with the NHRA season coming to a close with Sunday's Auto Club of Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, Finals at Pomona Raceway, teams from NASCAR NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing), organization that sanctions American stock-car races, est. 1948. It held its first race in Daytona Beach, Fla. , the Indy Racing League The Indy Racing League, better known as IRL, is the sanctioning body of a predominantly American based open-wheel racing series. The League consists of two series, the premiere IndyCar Series , the NHRA - throughout the sports world Sports World are a British sports Retailer, formerly called Sports Soccer. Founded in the late 1970's by former county squash coach Mike Ashley, the group Sports World International is now the UK's largest retailer of sports clothing and accessories. , really - have come to the aid of Julie Russell and her family. ``The entire racing community is like a brotherhood out there,'' said Joe Amato For the Milwaukee mobster, see . Joe Amato (born June 13, 1944 in Exeter, Pennsylvania) is an American dragster driver, who won the NHRA Top Fuel championship a record five occasions and scored 52 event victories. , a retired drag racing drag racing Form of motor racing in which two contestants race side by side from a standing start over a straight quarter-mile strip of pavement. Winners go on to compete against others in their class until only one is left undefeated. legend and owner of Russell's Top Fuel team. ``When there's a tragedy, it seems like everybody rallies. The community becomes one and we unite.'' Has it ever. Fellow Top Fuel driver Larry Dixon This article is about the novelist and fantasy artist. For the senator from Alabama, see Larry Dixon (politician). For the professional racer, see Larry Dixon (drag racer). Larry Dixon (b. July 28, 1966) is a fantasy artist and novelist. spearheaded a movement to raise money for the Russell family Russell family English Whig family. It first became prominent under the Tudors, when John Russell (died 1555) was created earl of Bedford (1549) for helping suppress a rebellion against the Protestant reforms of Edward VI. . What started as simple auction fund-raiser has turned into an outpouring of support. Dixon calls it a celebration of Darrell Russell's life. ``We got more items than I ever anticipated,'' said Dixon, a Van Nuys High graduate and driver of the Don Prudhomme Snake Racing Top Fuel dragster drag·ster n. 1. An automobile specially built or modified for drag racing. 2. A person who races such an automobile. . ``It makes me very proud of what I do for a living. When somebody's in need, everyone comes together.'' Casey Mears, Jamie McMurray, Sterling Marlin, Mark Martin, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart were among the NASCAR drivers to donate autographed items for the auction. Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice and his boss, David Letterman, provided an autographed poster. Dodgers closer Eric Gagne and manager Jim Tracy donated autographed baseballs and opening-day tickets. Two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin contributed an autographed football. Don Shula, Dan Marino, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Fred Smith have offered autographed posters. Hundreds of items have been donated, including a guitar signed by the members of Van Halen. And the donations haven't stopped. Last week, Coca-Cola sent Dixon a comic book signed by LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers for the auction. So many items have been donated that the auction has been divided into three parts. There will be a silent auction at Pomona Raceway Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. There also is a live auction scheduled for later in the evening. And finally there will be an online auction for those who cannot attend the races. ``It's something Larry elected to do,'' said Prudhomme, also a Van Nuys High graduate and owner of Dixon's Top Fuel team. ``It didn't surprise me when he wanted to do it. He and Darrell were friends. He's always one of the first guys to jump in to say, 'What can we do to help?''' Dixon's wife, Allison, is the one who came up with the idea to hold an auction. Not necessarily because she wanted to raise money for the Russell family, but more because she tried to put herself in Julie Russell's position. ``My wife probably thought about it first,'' Dixon said. ``She thought about it from a wife's perspective: 'If I lost my husband, what would I do?''' Money isn't an overwhelming issue for the Russell family. The NHRA and Gateway International Raceway have insurance policies with $65,000 in place for compensating a driver's family in the event of a fatal accident. Amato is paying out the remainder of Russell's contract until the end of the year, although Morgan Lucas has taken over driving duties for the team. ``It's just the right thing to do,'' Amato said. ``We were truly blessed to secure Morgan Lucas as driver. Sometimes you do the right thing and God takes care of you. He's driving in Darrell's memory and handling it perfectly.'' One of Dixon's goals is to raise enough money so Julie Russell can pay for her new house in Texas. Prudhomme said the drive started by Dixon and his wife reminds him of a similar situation. When drag racer Shirley Muldowney was injured in a race accident years ago, Prudhomme's wife started collecting contributions to help Muldowney's family pay for her mounting hospital bills. For Dixon, organizing the auction and helping out was the most important thing. ``I want to celebrate his life and at the same time raise money for his family,'' Dixon said. ``Both subjects are equally important.'' Tim Haddock, (818) 713-3715 timothy.haddock(at)dailynews.com DARRELL RUSSELL MEMORIAL AUCTION When: Saturday. Where: Pomona Raceway. What: More than 200 items will be available for purchase during the auction. Details: A silent auction will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. at Pomona Raceway. A live auction will follow beginning at 6 p.m. in the Hospitality Village at Pomona Raceway. Admission to the track for the auction is free. CAPTION(S): 3 photos, 2 boxes Photo: (1 -- color) no caption (DARRELL RUSSELL) (2 -- color) Five months after Darrell Russell's fatal crash, friends have organized an auction to support his family. Will Lester/Staff Photographer (3) The late Darrell Russell won his first NHRA event in 2001 at Pomona. Photo Provided Box: (1) DARRELL RUSSELL MEMORIAL AUCTION (see text) (2) 40TH AUTO CLUB NHRA FINALS |
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