NF Heroes Descend on Daytona; Qualifiers go off Without a Hitch

Friday of race weekend, the NF Heroes and their families are coming in from around the country for the Rolex 24 at Daytona.  We'll be blogging live from the race with all you need to know about the race, the drivers, the NF Heroes and all the festivities of the Rolex 24.

Yesterday's qualifiers went well, the R4R car finished 22nd in its class, in a tightly-knit field only 3 seconds behind the leader.  We'll try to steal a couple minutes with the drivers later this evening for some pre-race thoughts and expectations.

Happy race weekend!

#14 CTF Car Graphics Unveiled

NF Heroes' Names To Appear on the #14 CTF GT3

Introducing our 2010 NF Heroes! Below are the names of 70 NF Heroes that will appear on the #14 Children's Tumor Foundation/Autometrics Motorsports Porsche GT3 at this weekend's 24 Hours At Daytona. Please consider making a donation in their honor or, when available, click on an individual's name to make a donation to their personal fundraising page.

Alex Pasch
Alexandra Konidaris
Andrew Adrian
Andrew Katz
Angelina Moscatello
Ann Sheeleigh
Annysa Ginsberg
Antonio Danino
Ashley Meyer
Bara Colodne
Ben Monterotti
Bernadette Tardio
Blake Robinson
Bob Beck
Brian Behrens
Brenda McCool
Brianna Worden
Caleigh Lawlor
Cameron Arnette
Celia LaBarbera
Chris Byrka
Courtland Hines
Dallas Henderson
Daniel Hayden
Delaney Watts
Destiny Burke
Drew Leathers
Ethan Wray
Evan Perdew
Everett Crisman
Gabriel Helpingstine
Isobelle Mick
Izzy Botko
Jacqueline Dunlap
Jesse Markland
Jessica Ramirez
Jocelyn Cantrell
Joe Kemphaus
John Schafer
Joseph Anania
Julia Perfetti
Katelyn Watkins
Kevin Martin
Koda Rentschler
Laurie Wagner
Lilly Ann Brooks
Luke Wallace
Lynne Stockman
Marette Nagel
Marisol Cordova
Meghan Amendola
Michael Zazula
Mickey Acosta
Nathan Gawrych
Nicholas Biering
Nicholas Gilbert
Owen Polak
Pete Dingeman
Quinn Clarke
Raymond Thomas
Renae Stob
Rob Schafer
Rose Match Suna
Rosie Colucci
Sam Couillard
Sandra Bloomberg
Taylor & Kirsten Halbert
Tyler Hamel
Tyler Robinson

Doctor to Race Daytona for Checkered Flag and Patients

When Ron Yarab Jr. MD of Poland, Ohio, takes to the track at Daytona International Speedway on January 30, to race in the Rolex 24, he’ll be racing for the checkered flag but also to raise funds and awareness for children, including some of his patients, living with neurofibromatosis (NF). Dr. Yarab is a physical medicine and rehab physician who has worked extensively with children affected by NF and will raise funds for their cause through Racing4Research, a unique fundraising campaign established by the Children’s Tumor Foundation (www.ctf.org).

“The opportunity to do work that I love, bettering the health of physically challenged children, coupled with the sport that I love, auto racing, is like a dream come true. With each lap that I complete we raise funds to research various forms of cancer, bone abnormalities, learning disabilities and many of the other forms that NF can take in children, it’s an honor to have that opportunity.”

This is the fourth year the Children's Tumor Foundation’s Racing4Research program will compete in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the nation’s premier endurance auto-race. For 24 straight hours Dr. Yarab and four fellow drivers will race with each lap the team completes raising money pledged by donors for clinical trials of potential NF treatments.

“The endurance aspect of the race is similar to the endurance aspect of leading a life with neurofibromatosis,” said George Orfanakos, Executive Director of the Children’s Tumor Foundation. “After 24 straight hours of racing the cars are often very beat up and very run down. The Children’s Tumor Foundation is competing in a race to prevent children from suffering the potentially devastating effects that a lifetime of neurofibromatosis can have on the body and Dr. Yarab is helping make sure we win the race.”

Neurofibromatosis is a progressive disorder that affects more than one in every 3,000 children born and causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. NF is more prominent than cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Huntington’s disease combined. The Racing4Research program has raised more than $500,000 for NF research since its inception. This program has already raised more than $225,000 for the 2010 Rolex 24 campaign.

CTF partners with Autometrics for 2010 Rolex 24

The Children’s Tumor Foundation and Autometrics Motorsports have partnered to race the Rolex 24, the nation’s most prestigious endurance auto racing event, at the Daytona International Speedway on January 30-31. This is the fourth year the Foundation’s Racing4Research program will participate in the 24 hour race, billed as the ultimate test of man and machine. Overall the program has raised more than a $500,000 for neurofibromatosis research and is closing in on the goal of $300,000 for this year.

“The endurance aspect of the race is similar to the endurance aspect of leading a life with neurofibromatosis,” said Children’s Tumor Foundation Executive Director George Orfanakos. “After 24 straight hours of racing the cars are often very beat up and very run down. At the Children’s Tumor Foundation we’re competing in a race to prevent children from having to endure the effects that a lifetime of neurofibromatosis can have on the body.”

Racing4Research (www.racing4research.org) is a unique fundraising program that allows donors to make per lap or flat pledges to help raise funds and awareness for NF and then follow the race on the SPEED channel. The program features NF Heroes, individuals affected by NF, whose names appear on the car, and many of whom attend the race or race-day parties throughout the country and fundraise for the event.

“What makes our Racing4Research effort so special is the presence and participation of our NF Heroes from across the country,” said Orfanakos. “It is important for those living with neurofibromatosis to know that the Children’s Tumor Foundation is by their side and that they are not alone in their fight against this disorder."

Autometrics Motorsports is a professional road racing team located in Charleston, SC that competes successfully in the prestigious Grand-Am Rolex Series and Koni Challenge Series. The team led by driver Cory Friedman, finished 3rd in the over-all GT point standings for the 2005 season. Friedman, along with returning R4R drivers Daniel Graeff and Ron Yarab will make this years team highly competitive as they race for more than just the checkered flag.

FOX35 covers Racing4Research at the Rolex 24

SPEED Interviews No. 85 Driver During Daytona 24