Boys Town North Florida

The Boys Town North Florida team gears up for the Celebrity 60. Pictured (left to right) are Lt. Gov. Bobby Brantley, Board Chairman; Gene Strickland, husband of Dena Strickland; Dena Strickland, Development Director; Ken Bender, Executive Director; Ted Strauss, Board Member; and Prentiss Mitchell, Board Member.

Racers Gear Up to Support North Florida Youth

The second annual Boys Town Celebrity 60 shifted into drive Sunday, Feb. 23, at Monticello Karting and Motor Club in Monticello, Florida.

Chaired by last year’s winner, Jason Crowder of Crowder Excavating and Land Clearing, the 60-lap celebrity kart race raised close to $15,000 for North Florida’s hurting children and families.

“The Celebrity 60 is a unique fundraiser,” said Jason Crowder, Celebrity 60 Chairman.  “There is a real charge in the air on race day for the teams, with the kids from Boys Town in the stands cheering for their favorite driver.”

Eight teams paying $2,500 each participated in the high energy competition.  Among those participating were: Crowder Excavating and Land Clearing, The Moon, North Florida Animal Hospital, Blue Ribbon Cleaners, Capital Truck, Inc./Duncan Trucking, Inc./ Mitchell Brothers Asphalt, Saturn of Tallahassee, All American Ford, Ajax Building Corporation and Boys Town North Florida.

Celebrity 60 Winners: 1st place: Blue Ribbon Cleaners 2nd place: Capital Truck, Inc./ Duncan Trucking, Inc./ Mitchell Brothers Asphalt. 3rd place: North Florida Animal Hospital

“Thanks to all of our sponsors, the event was a tremendous success,” said Dena Strickland, Boys Town North Florida Development Director. “The camaraderie of the drivers and families that came out to cheer for their teams—all in support of the children of Boys Town was very meaningful and fun!”

The day of fun and endurance racing started with drivers racing to their karts.  The drivers then maneuvered 60 laps on the 1.1-mile track until winner Mike Wallenfelsz, co-owner of Blue Ribbon Cleaners crossed the finish line with a final time of 40:14.126.  The combined efforts of Capital Truck, Inc., Duncan Trucking, Inc., and Mitchell Brothers Asphalt helped the team place second while the North Florida Animal Hospital placed third.

Boys Town North Florida supporters cheer for the Boys Town team as it zooms by during the Celebrity 60.

“When I heard about the Celebrity 60 I was excited to not only fuel my passion for racing, but for the opportunity to help Boys Town children,” said Wallenfelsz. “To see the excitement in the faces of the children of Boys Town as they cheered loudly for all the racers made it all worth the time, money and effort to support this cause.”