Drag Racing Association of Women

               "Fast Help for Fast Friends"

 

DRAW History

 

"Because We Care"

 

 

DRAW was officially organized following a successful fund-raiser in 1984 for Shirley Muldowney. Members of the drag racing community handling the recovery fund were very encouraged by the support of racers and fans who generously donated. They asked the question , "If we can help one racer, why not organize our efforts to help all injured drag racers?" As a result DRAW was created to provide financial and/or emotional support to injured drag racers. DRAW reaches out to every drag racing category and all drag racing sanctioning bodies.

DRAW is a volunteer organization. Office work is done from the businesses and homes of the volunteers. Anyone, racers, fans, sponsors, manufacturers, team and track owners, and more can become involved in DRAW.

 

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Founders of DRAW

 

Gere Amato             Etta Glidden

Penny Beck                 Diane Henrick

Holly Beadle           Linda McCulloch

    Laura Earwood        Lynn Prudhomme

Pat Garlits               Janie Oswald



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LIFE TIME MEMBERS

 Shirley Muldowney         Dave McClelland

Barbara Carrier           Bob Frey

  Barbara Parks                Joan Gwynn

Rosalee & Terry Noble


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AWARDS PRESENTED BY DRAW

 

DRAW PERSON OF THE YEAR


1993 Jack McCormack

1994 NHRA Staff

1995 Dave McClelland

1996 Billy & Deborah Meyer

1997 Louis McClelland

1998 Bob Frey

1999 Beth Hyatt

2000 PRO

2001 TAG (The Announcers Guild)

2002 Terry Noble

2003 John Force

2004 – Jerry Gwynn

2005 – Mickey and Beth Prestridge

2006 – Alan Reinhart

2007 – William McLemore

2008 – Carolyn Ashbee

2009 – NHRA Media

2010 – Brian Bianco

2011 – Kenny Koretsky

20112 – Rodger Brogdon

2013 - Terry McMillan

2014 - Steve Kent

2015 - Angelle Sampey

2016 - Karla Hardesty

2017 - Terry Chandler

2018 - Sharon Smith

2022 Kelly "Ike" Isenhower

 

DRAW COMPANY/ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR

    

2003 Federal Mogul and Ann Skrycki-Mohler

2004 - Jim Adolph and PRIMEDIA

2005 Owners and Operators of the Souvenier Trailers

2006 – Hartman Motorsports

2007 - PowerAide

2008 – MTS – Roger and Karen Comstrock

2009 – Mopar

2010 – Kalitta Air

2011 – Lucas Oil

2012 - Castrol

2013 - Don Schumacher Racing

2014 - Bandimere Family and Bandimere Speedway

2015 - Hot Rod Processing - Ed Mann
2016 - "Top End Club" from Charlotte
2017 - Top Fuel Harley Racers Association
2018 - Racers For Christ


TRACY WINTERS DRAW VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

           

2006 -  Pat Shaeffer

2007 - Kelly Shaeffer

2008 – Bonnie Rashleigh

2009 – John Cole

2010 – Chris and Karla Hardesty

2011 - Erin and Mikala Warner & Nikki Bennett,

2012 – Olan Gotcher

2013 - Deb Pearson

2014 - Steve Libby and Jeff "Gypsy" Mohr

2015 - Debby Thompson

2016 - Diana Keith, Annette & Steve Haynes

2017 - Tim and Laurie Link

2019 - Bill & Judy Leahey, Kendra Wolf

2021 - Keith family

2022 - Judy Gotcher

2023 - Tammy Bandimere & Family



 WILLIAM MCLEMORE DRAW VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR


2017 - Beth Prestridge

2018 - Theresa Tilford

2021- Rein Keith - Millie Martel

2023 - Kathi VanderMeer



WARD Bear
(The OFFICIAL Cuddly Comforter of DRAW
or "Fast Fuzzies For Fast Friends")

 

 

Sometimes, the most wonderful things have humble beginnings and such is the case with a very special bear named WARD. In 1991, Area 3 DRAW member, Minerva Evans, handcrafted a lovely bear for a special racing friend. This original bear so delighted Minerva's friend that the friend placed the bear in her race car every time she competed.

One day, Minerva's proud friend showed her special bear to DRAW's Board of Trustees. An idea blossomed. Why not present injured racers with a bear when an incident occurs? While DRAW's main emphasis is financial assistance, emotional support is also very important. This new bear was to become a symbol of DRAW's presence and concern, a true gesture of kindness in the aftermath of a racing incident.

Much to the board's surprise, Minerva Evans volunteered to make the bears, cuddly little creatures that would eventually find their way into the arms of racers touched by injury. Everyone got excited about DRAW's new idea and the board decided to hold a contest to come up with just the right Bear name.

While creativity abound as names poured in, when all was said and done, one clearly became the favorite. It was simply . . . . WARD. While not a popular or common name in the 90's, it was just perfect for this bear . . . . It's DRAW spelled backWARD!

Over the years, Minerva Evans painstakingly stitched dozens of bears that touched the lives of many a racer. Sometimes, WARD went through the mail but the preferred method of delivery was for a DRAW member to present him in person. Whenever possible, Board Members, Area Coordinators or DRAW Members would visit injured racers immediately following an incident, often going to the hospital to comfort the family, offer support and bring WARD. So popular and adored was WARD, legend grew it wasn't stuffing that made him cuddly, but the love Minerva filled him with.

On Saturday May 10th, 1997, Minerva Evan's life was irrevocably changed when her husband, Ray, was critically injured during a top-end incident in Illinois, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. Minerva remained at Ray's side throughout his long hospitalization, not returning home, even once, until March of 1998. DRAW and hundreds in the racing community stepped forWARD to assist the family during this difficult time. Obviously the focus and priorities in Minerva's life were now centered on her husband's medical care, thus with great sadness Minerva relinquished her sewing duties to care for the man she loved, marking the end of an era for the original, magical WARD.

In the years immediately following Minerva's decision, DRAW experimented with a number of options to fill the gap. As is often the case, sometimes one doesn't truly appreciate the fullness of something until it's lost. Nowhere was that more apparent than when DRAW attempted to find someone to replace Minerva in the construction of WARD Bears. It slowly dawned on everyone that Minerva had indeed, given a very special contribution with WARD, evidently one not easily replaced.

In 2000, DRAW celebrates the life and memory of the original WARD Bear with the introduction of a new WARD. While DRAW's new bear is "factory model", we've added personal touches that officially transform him into our very own second-generation WARD. And in a tradition started by Minerva, each WARD Bear is sprinkled with kisses and showered with love by the last DRAW member to hold him, then sent on his way to give comfort . . and remind each special racer touched by an unexpected incident or loss, that they are not alone.

Because We Care . . . WARD