Wednesday Updates

1993 Super Nationals champion Ron Pope of Mason City will debut his Modified displaying a Hayden’s Hope wrap during Wednesday qualifying.

He’s promoting awareness of the Hayden’s Hope Foundation, which has raised more than $100,000 for research into a cure for Friedreich’s Ataxia (a rare form of muscular dystrophy) and the foundation’s 5K/10K Warrior Run on Sept. 27 in downtown Mason City.

Hayden Despenas, the son of family friends, was diagned with Friedreich’s Ataxia in May of 2012, when he was eight years old. Pope’s wife Kelly designed the wrap, done by Sybesma Graphics.

“Hayden just loves race cars. It means a lot for us to be part of this,” Pope said. “There were quite a few emotions when we rolled the car out for the first viewing. People knew something was up because the race car trailer was there. It was very exciting.”

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Tristan Carman got the last laugh on whoever it was that broke into his race shop three weeks ago.

IMCA’s national Stock Car rookie of the year last season, the 17-year-old from Killeen had made plans to compete at Boone this week. Not long after, a thief or thieves tried to rain on his Super Nationals, stealing his tools, shocks, springs, set-up equipment … even his steering wheel.

“Everything on the car and in the truck now is what we have left or borrowed,” he said. “After the break-in, we made it a point to come and so far Super Nationals has been everything I expected, except that there are a lot more cars.”

“I’ve always wanted to run Super Nationals,” added Carman, armed with a new B & B Chassis. “And I want to win the show.”

While the money was designated for Super Nationals expenses, Carman picked up some extra bucks before Boone the old-fashioned way: He shaved his beard.

Phil Egbert, P.J. Egbert, Michael Walter, Kenny Stone and an anonymous donor pledged a total of $900 and Carman agreed to put his razor back to use.