The All Star Circuit of Champions’ annual Ohio Sprint Speedweek is the most grueling stretch of races on the year for the tour.
It challenges crews to compete eight times in nine days when a normal weekend usually only includes 2-4 nights.
With that, they’ll take all of the extra help they can get – and a race fan in Stephanie Linder is going to extreme lengths to deliver that.
“This is my third year doing it. It didn’t happen last year because of COVID. The year that I started doing it, I actually took care of the social media for Attica Racceway Park. I put a post out using their social media about if fans wanted to bring donations, water, whatever it might be. Even like a roll of quarters for a car wash is huge for these guys. It’s the little things. They add up.”
Linder organizes a donation drive for teams that are competing in Ohio Speedweek – races that attract nearly 50 teams throughout the event including star Kyle Larson.
It started four years ago and then snowballed from there.
“I never expected it to be as big as it has been this year,” Linder said. “It’s overwhelming – in a good way.
Linder said she had received triple the donations this season than she normally does. A glance at her Twitter feed will show the generosity of fans and the abundance of appreciation that drivers have for the donations.
Cannot thank everyone enough for all these generous and thoughtful donations to keep us hydrated, fed and going this week. You are all simply AMAZING. Sprint Car fans are the BEST fans!!!!
Also, thank you Track Mom @stephlinder312 for helping all teams and coordinating! pic.twitter.com/CiJ51wPqB5
— LANE RACING (@laneracing12) June 12, 2021
Linder has always helped people in her career, both in racing and other ventures.
She and her husband run Ray Brooks Racing – a sprint car team in Ohio – and even house their driver Cole Macedo. If that wasn’t enough, her main career is being an aid for special needs children.
Linder’s life has been filled with helping others, so the success and generosity she shows during Ohio Speedweek should come to no surprise.
“Sometimes, they don’t have much to say, because they’re speechless someone would do that for them,” Linder said. “There’s always such an excitement for Speedweek. I don’t know that I add to it, but I hope so. I hope fans are excited to come out and know that they’ve helped these teams.
“It’s not the difference between running and not running, but every case of water – every roll of quarters – helps.”
Remaining Ohio Sprint Speedweek Schedule
June 17 | Muskingum County Speedway
June 18 | Limaland Motorsports Park
June 19 | Portsmouth Raceway Park
