The Steve King Foundation has helped many, many individuals and families that faced hardship, loss and adversity in the racing world. The Steve King Foundation helped my family and I through hardship and adversity that we faced from an injury I received in January 2016 racing in Yuma, AZ. My injury to my L4 vertebra continued to get worse ultimately leading to major back surgery in July 2018 to remove my vertebra and do a fusion.
Steve King was a great person and an accomplished promising race car driver that tragically lost his life racing. My family and I will forever be grateful for the support we received form such a great foundation created in honor of the late Steve King. When tragedy strikes in the racing world it can be a very trying and difficult time to endure. The Steve King Foundation is one of the few foundations that reach out to help as many as possible who have faced hardship in the racing world. I have been fortunate and blessed to get to know the King family and others that make this great foundation possible. The King family and associates are some of the greatest people you could ever meet. The racing world is very fortunate to have the Steve King Foundation!!
A GREAT organization !!! Assisted me when I had neck surgery to repair damage from 30 yrs of racing Sprint Cars. Very much appreciated and needed at the time. We love to do things at our year end banquet to donate to this foundation !!!
On Sunday, June 24, 2018, Tyler Herschberger was racing his micro sprint at US24 speedway in Logansport, IN for a big $5000 to win non wing race. During his heat race another car made heavy contact with the left side of Tyler's car knocking the injection system off part of the engine cause the car to catch fire. Tyler was not aware right away that it was on fire but by the time he came to a stop on the front stretch the car burst into flames. During all the panic of getting out of the car his right foot got stuck behind the gas pedal causing a delay in him getting out of the car. It ended up being 27 seconds from time car went into flames till fire was out and he was out of the car. Even tho, Tyler had all the proper safety gear on, he did substain significant burns to his left arm, hand, chest and back. Tyler was air lifted from track to the burn unit @ St. Joe Hospital in Ft. Wayne, IN. Tyler ended up having 3rd degree burns to his left arm, hand and chest. Tyler had 2nd degree burns on 30% of the rest of his body including face, right hand and back. On June 28, Tyler had skin grafting done on his whole left arm and hand from the shoulder down. On July 12, Tyler would have the 2nd surgery to work on his chest area and have a wound vac installed and staples removed from his 1st surgery. Tyler is going to have the wound vac for several weeks. Tyler was able to go home on July 15, after spending 21 days in the hospital since the accident. Tyler will have to go back in a couple weeks to have the 3rd surgery for grafting on his chest and to close up the area on his shoulder where they started original graft. Tyler has in home health coming 3-4 times a week to change dressing and to teach his family how to change dressing in the off days. Tyler has physical therapy daily to start working on getting movement and his strength back. Currently the doctor has Tyler off of work till 1st of the year and will assess him then. Doctor did say that full healing and recovery could take up to 2 years. Tyler is in pretty good spirits but has a lot of pain and some days are better than others. Tyler said his worst fear thru all of this is that he thought he was gonna burn to death. Thank you to everyone whether it be friends, family, racing fans, fellow racers and medical staff, your help, thoughts and prayers have been so uplifting to Tyler and his entire family. We can not say thank you enough for the outpouring support and prayers. The Steve King Foundation has been an awesome foundation to work with. Tyler has gotten tremendous support from them in his recovery process.
When one of our employee's was severely injured during Florida Speedweeks, the Steve King Foundation was there to offer support.
This group helps racers when they are in their most vulnerable position and lends support to help in their time of need. The support and encouragement offered by this group will never be forgotten.
Terry Young
General Manager
HOOSIER Tire Midwest, Inc.
I’m sharing on behalf of my husband, Joshua Stephens. Josh was injured in a non-Wing race at Valley Speedway on June 2, 2018, fracturing vertebrae c1 & 2 and dislocating 5 & 6. The Steve King foundation quickly reached out to us without hesitation, asking our needs and offering their support. Their generous donation allowed us to focus on Joshs healing and not the other financial burdens that come along with this injury. Thank you for all you’ve done and will faithfully continue to do for all the racing community that are also faced with similar tragedies. Forever grateful, The Stephens Family
On March 18,2017 was at the races in mesquite,Texas sitting in a chair on top of a stacker trailer watching the races when my chair broke and slung me off the 13ft trailer. Shattered my wrist and fractured my back T11, L1, L2,L3 & L4 doctor said he couldn't believe it didn't paralyze me. I Was at a Dallas Hospital for 19 days to fix my back and wrist. My back is now connect with rods and screws and my wrist only has 75% movement now. The dr say it needs a couple more surgeries to be back to full movement, but without health insurance all of this will have to wait! Although I'm reminded daily of the pain and scars I'm truly greatful that I'm able to go to work everyday and watch my son race and enjoy the things in life that make my family happy! Thank you Steve King Foundation for helping me and my family feel a little more at ease for supporting us financially while I was home recovering and my wife not being able to work at that time.
My son Tyler Esh was hurt in an race car accident. The Steve King Foundation was there to help Tyler and our family through. This foundation does amazing things for injured drivers and there families. We are so proud to be a part of this foundation.
The Steve King Foundation has been a blessing to me. My name is Phil Long, I have been involved in Auto Racing for over 40 yrs. I was first a Crew Member at age 14 and then 3 yrs. later I purchased a Modified and went racing. I kept improving and moving up the Dirt Track ladder until I was Racing Sprint Cars. In the middle of my Career at age 30, I started having weakness in my Legs, I blamed it on a bad crash I had a few yrs. earlier. After a consultation with an Orthopedic Surgeon, he referred me to a Specialist in Neuromuscular Medicine. They found after extensive tests that I had developed a form of Muscular Dystrophy. I continued Racing for 4 more years after developing the Disease. I then had to retire from Driving but continued to own a Race Car for 4 more years. I have become a Crew Chief/ Consultant for numerous Sprint Cars Teams in the PA./Ohio area. In 2008, I became fully dependent on a Wheel Chair. In 2010 I had to leave my job of 17 yrs. due to this crippling Disease. My Income had become less than half of what I earned working, I was still working on Sprint Cars but had become dependent on someone to Drive me to the Races and do the Physical work on the Car. In 2015, I had gotten to the point where using my manual Wheel Chair was no longer feasible. My Lower Legs and Upper Arms have been affected that I was now only able to use the Power Wheel Chair. The Problem I was now faced with was I needed a Wheel Chair Accessible Vehicle. The Cost of such a Vehicle, even used was way out of the budget of my Disability Income. The only way I could come up with the Money to Purchase such a Vehicle was through a Fund Raiser. Through all the help of many friends and from the head of a Racing Webpage posting the info, and going through a Non-Profit Charity, we were able to raise the Money. The Steve King Foundation Donated to this Fund Raiser which in turn made it Possible for me to Purchase the Wheel Chair Van. This Van has now opened the World back up for me. I was actually home bound for over 6 months. Now, this Van makes it possible, not only to get to the Races to continue doing what I Love, but most importantly, get to my Doctor Appointments, Grocery Stores, and anywhere I want to go. My Life has been changed by having this Van and The Steve King Foundations Donation towards the purchase of this Vehicle has changed my life. To all the Racers out there and to the people who Love Racing, Please donate to this wonderful Foundation, for the Memory of Steve and to help Racers like me who depend on these type of Foundations. They helped my life and many others. Please help this Foundation to keep doing what they do!
I am writing this story for our Daughter, Bristol, who is 6. 3 years ago our daughter was diagnosed with a rare neurological brain disorder called Rett Syndrome, shortly after her diagnosis we took a leap of faith and got her inducted into these Boston Clinical Trials in hopes of finding a drug that would work to calm down and help her symptoms. The only thing we didn't have to pay for was everything in the Hospital, all the testings and such. So, therefore we still had to pay for hotel stays, food, transportation and flights. As we maxed out many credit cards, and had fundraisers we had a dear friend of ours come to tell us about the Steve King Foundation, for the last 3 or 4 trips the SKF helped us out so much in their kind donations! We were grateful they were able to help us out and their donations went towards our Hotel stays and Food, we were able to have an ease of mind on these trips and we cannot thank the SKF more then ever for their help!!
The Stephen King foundation has helped so many, including myself in 2010....... every penny is used to help those in need & I am proud to be able to assist them with their mission thru our motorsports programs....
Having been born into the Western Pennsylvania racing community I have been building and working on sprint cars and big block modifieds for 30 yrs. The summer of 2016 was no different. Working for the Adam Kekich Racing Team. Upon shaving one day a small lump was noticed. Followiing the prilimanary testing I was found to have stage 3-4 head and neck cancer with mets to my lymphnodes. After having a PET scan 4 days later I was in surgery with the 100% odds of needed chemotherapy an radiation. i was immediately taken off work. Treatment began and I was unable to work. Bill Beck contacted Naomi King who inturn personally called and ask a few questons and said a check was in the mail to help with all my travel expenses. i was blow away by this Steve King Foundation and what they have done for me. Thanks will not be enough. I will donate time help organize events or any thng else I can do to see that this great organization continues on. The battle is still being fought but I will win this race. Its time to get cars together and start racing. Feel free to contact me for any question. Thanks so much Naomi King and The Steve King Foundation for all your help.
My son Josh Jackson was tragically injured on August 8th, 2015 when he was racing his Dave Burns Truck and Equipment #37 360 Non-Wing Sprint Car. Josh suffered a Tramatic Brain Injury and lost his left eye when another car crashed into the top
Of his roll cage in a multi car accident. Josh was 17 at the time and 4 days away from starting his Senior year of Highr school. The accident put his life on hold for just under a year. Josh required a total of 7 surgeries and 8 months in two different rehab hospitals. With the help of the Steve King Foundation I was able to remain by my sons side as he recoverd. I will always be thankful to the foundation and to our family friends Kent and Shari Skaggs who knew about the foundation and completed the application for us. Josh is still on the road to recover but is doing absolutely amazing! Josh has just completed his first semester of his Senior year and has even gone back to racing Legends. No words will ever be enough to express how grateful Josh and I are for the support of such an amazing foundation!
August 28th 2015, I was in a real bad wreck in my sprint car. Steering malfunctioned and I slammed head on into the wall coming out of turn 4. As a result, I ended up with two broken knee caps. This put me out of work for a period of 4 months. The morning after surgery a fellow racer called me and told me "the Steve King Foundation wants your contact information". Not thinking much about it at the time I went ahead and emailed them my info. Three days out of the hospital I had a check in the mailbox. The foundation really helped a lot during my recovery. I like to tell my wife that they basically saved our home while I was out.
Great people like the Steve King Foundation, are rare these days, and these are truly wonderful people.
Thank you again SKF
D.J. Lamance Jr.
#18
On 7/3/16 I was severely burned after an accident racing sprint cars at Selinsgrove (PA) Speedway. I had 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 35% of my body (arms, stomach, legs) even after wearing all approved safety equipment. I spent 29 days in the burn center at Lehigh Valley. As I've recovered the outpouring of support from the racing community has been more than overwhelming. one group, the Steve King Foundation, was one of the first organizations to step up once they heard about me. Knowing what I had ahead of me, they got in touch with my family and did what they could to make sure our needs were taken care of. It's so amazing that they are out there to help people like myself.
I was paralyzed in a racing accident back in 1988 and there were many, many people who stepped up to help my family and me emotionally and financially.
Although the Steve King Foundation wasn't established at that time, I personally know how important it is to those of us who are going through a rough time to know that there are good people who invest their time and money to help people like us!
I have been to several events and witnessed first hand how hard the family of Steve King, along with many volunteers, work to continue to raise the needed money that they payout to those who are injured.
They continuously gather memorabilia and have several auctions and other fund raisers around the country.
You hear of so many organizations who keep the majority of the money raised as "administration fees" and that is absolutely not he case with the Steve king Foundation!
If anything, running the organization, and keeping it going most likely costs the King family money out of their own pockets.
Thankfully they are willing to help so many people and should be commended for their efforts!
The Steve King Foundation blessed not only myself, but my father as well. In 2011 I was severely injured while racing at Eldora during the King's Royal. I missed 30 races due to my injuries. This had a significant impact on me as racing is my livelihood. The SKF helped me during this very difficult time. The SKF also helped my father Lil' Joe Saldana while he was battling cancer. My dad was so thankful that the foundation reached out to him. My entire family is grateful for the kindness and generosity that the Steve King Foundation has shown my father and myself as well as all the others it has helped and will continue to help.
I was severely injured at the Knoxville Raceway on June 30, 2012. Another car broke through the cockpit of my car and shattered by elbow, hurt my thigh and stabbed a bumper under my armpit, off my ribs, through my collar bone and out my back. I would be flown by life flight to Des Moines, IA where I would spend multiple days recovering. Reconstructing my elbow and getting back to normal daily life took months and I did not race again for nearly 9 months. The Steve King Foundation stepped into help my family and I financially during this tough time. They did so without asking and with such care. It was the worst time of my life but the individuals at the Steve King Foundation were able to help us see the love and care that the racing community gives during a fellow racers time of need. Great organization with a great purpose led by amazing individuals. Thank you!
In august of 2015, I was injured racing. I was paralyzed from the waist down and have since been in therapy. Over the last year and a few months, Steve King Foundation has been able to relieve so many of my families stresses by continuing to help support me while I try to get back to my normal life. Because of the support they've offered, I've gotten to stay in therapy and have progressed from no movement to being able to walk with a walker. Myself and my family are beyond grateful for what the foundation has done for not only us but the rest of the racing community. - Kevin Swindell
I run a charity event titled "Pave the Clay Invitational". Drivers and crew of any and every division get together to race for the Steve King Foundation benefitting Injured Racecar Drivers. We began the event in 2014 and have done it annually since. Our most recent race, the 3rd Annual, raised $6800 for Injured Racecar Drivers. The event was tough to get started in 2014, however, we got in touch with the Steve King Organization and they helped guide us towards where we are today. The event has grown by double every year of its existence and we hope to continue that trend in 2017.
As drivers, we know the risk. But the thrill of the sport overwhelms us and causes us to ignore those thoughts. Sadly, this sport is unforgiving and drivers can and do get hurt. To have the people we do at Steve King, that continue to work hard to ensure hurt drivers are cared for properly, should give all of us just a little extra comfort every time we wheel onto the speedway.