Simonton Becomes Official Member of DRAW
The Drag Racing Association of Women (DRAW) welcomed their newest official member this week following the NHRA Mac Tools U.S. National event in Indianapolis, Ind……..
Cassie Simonton, the 25 year-old Top Alcohol Funny Car driver for Canadian-based Kon Rodz Racing, made the decision to get involved with the DRAW program after hearing about the organization’s success since their launch in 1985.
This is Simonton’s second year racing the Kon Rodz Racing Top Alcohol Funny Car, owned and operated by Spiro and Fay Kontos. The team competed in their first national event of 2011 at the Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., where she recorded a career best ET of 5.56 at 260 mph.
Most recently, Simonton and the Kon Rodz Racing team competed in the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway Park where Cassie had a quarter finals finish.
The Drag Racing Association of Women (DRAW) is a non-profit organization that provides financial and emotional support to drivers and crew members involved in drag racing accidents while at the track. DRAW came into play in 1985 following a successful 1984 fundraiser for injured racer, Shirley Muldowney. Members of the drag racing community who were involved in the relief endeavor were blown away by the support of fellow racers and fans. In turn, many were inspired to create an organization that would financially assist individuals involved in drag racing accidents.
Cassie Simonton - driver of the KonRodz Racing TAFC - in action during last weekend's NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
“It’s a huge honor to be associated with The Drag Racing Association of Woman. Not only has it been around for over 26 years, but it is extremely successful in that it has helped so many people in the racing community. We all know racing is dangerous and NHRA definitely takes all the right precautions to keep the series as safe as possible, but it is nice to know that there is a large group of people ready to step in and help out if an accident does happen,” said Simonton, driver of the Kon Rodz Top Alcohol Funny Car.
Cassie Simonton
The organization operates by the slogan, “Fast Help for Fast Friends” and has been victorious in each effort to provide support. From 1985-2010, DRAW raised over $3,754,442 to aid more than 732 families. Last year, 45 families alone were supported, with funds raised exceeding $220, 125.
“As a team, we are proud of Cassie (Simonton, driver) for taking an interest in this particular project and we are very happy to display the DRAW logo on our car and trailer at each event we attend. DRAW is a big deal, but is the type of organization that needs to be bigger. Kon Rodz Racing is prepared to do their part in building awareness to make it bigger. We’re hoping we’ll rub off on others who aren’t yet involved,” said Spiro Kontos, team owner of Kon Rodz Racing.
For ways to become involved in DRAW, please visit www.drawonline.org
You can donate financially by:
- Mail-in form – Mail a check or money order to DRAW.
- PayPal® – Pay online with PayPal® using your Checking Account or Credit Card. We will be electronically notified of your donation. Click the PayPal® icon to make a secure online donation to DRAW. If you are making a donation in honor or memory of an individual, please add that information in the “add special instructions to merchant” section of the PayPal donation page.
Follow Cassie
Twitter- twitter.com/CassieSimonton
Facebook- facebook.com/Cassie-Simonton
Follow Kon Rodz Racing
Facebook- facebook.com/KonRodzRacing
Website- www.KonRodzRacing.com
MORE ABOUT CASSIE SIMONTON AND KON RODZ RACING:
Cassie Simonton began her racing career at the age of 8 in Junior Dragsters. She ended her Junior Dragster career at 16 years old, winning the Division 5 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing event at Brainerd International Raceway. That same year, she stepped into her dads Blown Alcohol Dragster to license. She competed with a group called the Midwest Wild Bunch and made it all the way to the final round.
Simonton attended the University of Northwestern Ohio and graduated at the top of her class with an Associates Degree in High Performance in 2008. Immediately following graduation, she began an internship with Kon Rodz Racing as a crew member. In 2010, at the age of 23, she began her rookie year as a driver in the Top Alcohol Funny Car. She finished the year with a recorded ET of 5.68 at 256 mph. She is 1 of only 5 female drivers competing in this division. The team had a successful start to the 2011 season at the Gatornationals in Gainesville, where she recorded a career best ET of 5.56 @ 260 mph.
Posted by: Sarah Adams
