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Families Duke it Out on the Racetrack for Father's Day

by KREX News Room
by Amanda Brandeis

Story Created: Jun 17, 2012 at 6:59 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jun 18, 2012 at 9:34 AM MDT

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- Grand Valley families spent this Father's Day not only honoring the dads, but honoring those who serve the public. The police, fire department and National Guard were among those honored.

Temperatures may have hit the 90s, but speeds reached up to the 100s.

Cody Dempster, one kart racer, said, "Me and Riley were just battling back and forth and having a great time out there."

This was the second annual Kart Racing for Heroes. It was held at the Grand Junction Motor Speedway.

Standing with her father, Mianna Wick said, "He means the world to me. He has done so much, we work endless hours on this."

Also talking about his dad, Jet Davis said, "He's the most important fella in my life ... I wouldn't be doing any of this if it wasn't for him."

Kart racer Tristin MacLeod said, "Today, it's just really all about the heroes that help our country."

Craig Mansfield, organizer of the event, said, "It gives us an opportunity, the karting community and the people who came out today, to say thank you ... for the jobs that they all do every day."

After an exciting day of racing, police and firemen battled it out against military and first responders. The National Guard won that race, but the day wasn't all about the competition.

Mansfield said, "My son and I used to race karts. One Father's Day he said, 'I can either take you to a race, Dad, or we can race together.' I said let's race together, this will be a blast. Unfortunately, he was killed seven years ago by a drunk driver after he had returned from a tour in Iraq."

Organizers aim to raise awareness through the event.

"Anything we can do to stop one person from getting behind the wheel," said Mansfield.

A Grand Junction police officer said, " It means a lot to be out here and just let the community know that drunk driving is not OK. It is something we really all need to get together and combat."

When asked what his son would think about all the work he has done to combat drunk driving, Mansfield sad, "I hope he'd be proud."

At the end of the day, no matter what happens, everyone at the event said they are on the same team.

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