Largest Car Chix Ladies Only Drag Race & Breast Cancer Fundraiser Ever

Car Chix hosted their annual Ladies Only Drag Race and Breast Cancer Fundraiser last weekend at Byron Dragway in Byron, Illinois.  Women and men from all over the country came out to show support for women in motorsports and breast cancer awareness.  Year after year, the turn out for the Car Chix Ladies Only Drag Race & Breast Cancer Fundraiser only continues to grow and this year surely did not disappoint.

Founded in 2009, Car Chix has been coordinating and presenting their own competitive Ladies Only Drag Races since 2012.  In 2010 and 2011, Car Chix partnered with a former drag racing series to present the ‘Race for the Purse’.   After the organization shut it’s doors, Car Chix decided to continue the event on it’s own — with more classes, more awards and more horsepower – The Car Chix Ladies Only Drag Race was born.  In 2016, Car Chix combined their famous ‘Drag Racing for Life Breast Cancer Fundraiser’ with the Ladies Only Drag Race that was formerly held during the World Series of Drag Racing at Cordova International Raceway.

This year, Car Chix decided to introduce a couple new items to an already acclaimed event to raise the stakes; including an award for ‘Best Wheelstand’ and adding a new class – ‘Car Chix Junior Dragsters’.  After months of planning, the day finally came….

Car Chix had 35 women and young ladies register and compete in the 2017 Car Chix Ladies Only Drag Race! 

“I walked into the staging lanes for round one qualifying and there were cars as far as you could see and even wrapping around the staging lanes,” Jeanette DesJardins, President and Founder of Car Chix stated,”It was beautiful.”

In addition to four classes for the Car Chix Ladies Only Drag Race, including: Car Chix Pro (11:49 & Quicker), Car Chix Street (11.50 & Slower), Car Chix Bikes (All Models) and Car Chix Junior Dragster (1/8th mile,  Ages 6 – 17) — event attendees helped raise money for the All About Me Program at Rochelle Community Hospital through fundraising efforts, such as raffles and silent auctions & more.

Total funds raised for the All About Me Program at Rochelle Hospital was $1,715.80!

Thank you to everyone that participated and contributed to the success of the 2017 Ladies Only Drag Race & Breast Cancer Fundraiser at Byron Dragway!  See you in 2018!

THANK YOU TO ALL THE EVENT SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS

– OWC
– OWC Pro IT Services
– Crank It Media
– Chicago Intermodal Trucking Inc.
– D&M Corvette Specialists
– Redhorse Performance Inc.
– VP Racing Fuels
– Alexis DeJoria Racing
– COLD HARD ART
– Dina Parise Racing
– Life is Just a Drag
– Gently Read Creations
– Holly’s Hair Design
– Casey’s General Store
– Salvato Designs
– Snyders Pharmacy
– Father & Son of Oregon
– WR Swanson Photography
– Leslie Sands
– Aerospace Components Inc.
– Kimmy’s Garage
– Tim Szymanski & Lori McMillan Woeste
– John Hale Racing
– Byron Civic Theatre
– Jeff Stapleton with HEAD FIRST FABRICATION
– Heather Dorethy with Precision Turbo & Engine
– Dr. Cecilia Brantley
– Natalie Hirschfield
– Chelsey Simpson
– Kristin Vincent
– John Jank
– Michael Rooney
– Gearless Chris Productions
– All About Me Program
– Byron Dragway
– Dr. Brantley with Body Parts Fitness Studio of Chicago

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS

** CAR CHIX PRO CLASS **
1st Place – Bobbi Hansen – ’68 Chevy Camaro “Green Bean”

2nd Place – Kamryn Mason – ’97 Chevy Camaro

** CAR CHIX STREET CLASS **
1st Place – Jodi Blair – ’81 Chevy Malibu Wagon

2nd Place – Toni Wilhelm – ’72 Ford Grand Torino

** CAR CHIX BIKES **
Michelle Mankiewicz – ’06 Suzuki Hayabusa

** CARCHIX JUNIOR DRAGSTERS **
1st Place – Mikayla Highland – ’08 MX2

2nd Place – Ruby Zolper – ’01 Spritzer

** BEST REACTION TIME **
Christine Wescott Malek – .005 w/ Altered

** BEST BURNOUT **
Toni Wilhelm – ’72 Ford Grand Torino

** BEST WHEELSTAND **
Jennifer Kirby Zolper – ’73 Plymouth Duster

** FASTEST MPH **
Jennifer Kirby Zolper – 152.97 MPH w/ ’73 Plymouth Duster

** HOTTEST RIDE **
Claire Pommerich – ’99 MX2

 

** BEST DRESSED BACKUP BOY **
Candi Harrison w/ ’85 Mustang

** 50/50 WINNER **
Carsyn Smith

 
EVENT PHOTO GALLERIES
Thank you to our event Photographers: Bill Swanson of WR Swanson Photography & Chris Goller of Gearless Chris Productions 
Photo Gallery One <- Click to View
Photo Gallery Two < – Click to View

Thank you everyone for coming out and showing support for women in motorsports and breast cancer awareness.  This was the best event to date!  We look forward to seeing you all in 2018!  

 
Note: Article updated on 9/6/17 to reflect additional donations that came in after the event that contributed to the total funds raised for the All About Me Program.