In Honor of Stewart

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This event is being run in conjunction with:   

Jzilla Track Days - It’s not about what you drive, how long you’ve been driving, or where you’re driving from. The race track is a haven for all. This creed has been at the core of Jzilla Track Days since our inception. We started as a group of friends at a bachelor party that came together to have some fun, learn and help each other, and have a great time. We strive to keep this same feeling in every event we do. It doesn’t matter if you drive a Ferrari, a Miata, or anything in between, we exist to make sure everyone has the most enjoyable experience possible. A Jzilla Track Day isn’t about what you drive, it’s about what drives you!

EMMA TERRY: STOMPING OUT ALS
My grandfather, Stewart Simpson, was diagnosed with ALS right before I was born and has fought ALS for the past two decades.   I’ve never known my grandfather as a fully independent individual.  He’s always had to rely on someone for assistance to do those basic activities of daily living.  As a little girl, it was normal for him to be sick because that was all I knew.  I’ve never heard his voice, and I’ve never had those typical granddaughter-grandfather experiences.  ALS took that from us.  Now, the disease has progressed to the point where Grandy is completely bed-ridden and relies on someone for all of his basic needs.  That’s why I got involved with my local chapter of the ALS Association.   The more I volunteered, the more passionate I became.  I started to hear other people’s ALS stories, like Dave and everyone at Racing for ALS.   I founded my community service initiative, Stomping Out ALS One Step at a Time.  I built a website, started blogging, and educating others on what ALS is and why all of us should be passionate about it.  The whole idea behind Stomping Out ALS is that every single step is a step in the right direction.  Individual actions add up to huge leaps for our cause.  Being an advocate for my grandfather is quite complex.   I would of course rather him not be in this situation, but I’m making the most of it and trying to bring him joy and make him proud in every way I can.  Having this race named after him touches my heart and brings tears to my eyes.   My Grandy has always been strong.   He’s headstrong and tough.  He plowed fields with a mule growing up in a post-Great Depression America.  He worked his way up at Buffalo Rock, starting out delivering drinks and ending up a Corporate Analyst.  He knows the definition of perseverance, and his fight with ALS shows his ability to overcome.  No one should have to endure this.  No one’s family should have to watch their loved one fight a battle that they can’t win.   We have to end ALS.  I know we can, which is why events like these are so important to me.  One person is not going to single-handedly solve the puzzle that is ALS, but together we can.  I am a firm believer in small actions adding up to make a big difference, and that’s what happens at Racing for ALS.  By participating or donating, you are making a much bigger impact on this movement than you think.  See you at Barber!
Emma's participation in the Miss Alabama Program:    Emma is the current Miss UAB.  She’s a junior studying accounting and finance in the Collat School of Business on the Honors College Personalized Pathway.  She has participated in the Miss Alabama Organization since her teenage years, and even represented her state as Miss Alabama’s Outstanding Teen 2021.   The skills and platform this organization has given her have allowed her to break her shell and find her voice.   She often says that she would not be the person she is today without participating in Miss Alabama.  You can find more information about her participation in Miss Alabama on her website and social media accounts.

We are very honored to work with both organizations as we work to raise money and awareness for the #endals cause!  

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Racing for ALS is looking forward to making our first ever trip to Barber Motorsports Park just outside of Birmingham, AL, with our good friends from Jzilla Track Days and Emma Terry of Stomping Out ALS to run there September 30 and October 1, 2023!

Over these 5 years of racing, we have learned a lot about ALS and the needs of the ALS community. With that in mind, all of our events this year will support 3 different ways to help the ALS community in what we are calling the Triple Target Funding Program.

All 3 of these were chosen specifically by Dave from his research and experiences. They are the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI), Duke Neurology ALS Clinic, and our Patient Assistance & Van Program. Learn more about each of these and how we support them HERE!