FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FEBRUARY 1, 2009   

MEDIA CONTACT: Bill Sullivan: [email protected] 

TEAM CONTACT: [email protected] 

WEBSITE INFORMATION: www.chick-o-motorsports.com 

Off track; sprint champion Alissa Geving bound for New Orleans to assist with hurricane relief efforts 

By Bill Sullivan, Chicko Motorsports Media Relations 

PETALUMA, CA (2-1-09) – While many people assume that race car drivers do nothing but think, eat and breath the sport of racing, such is not the case. Many of today’s top talents spend a good portion of their time helping others and volunteering for various charitable efforts. Recently crowned Petaluma Speedway champion Alissa Geving, 17, of Penngrove, California is no exception to such traits. Later this month, Geving will leaving her helmet here in California as she travels to New Orleans to contribute to the ongoing relief efforts of Hurricane Katrina. 

                Hurricane Katrina was the costliest hurricane, as well as one of the five deadliest, in the history of the United States.  It caused severe destruction along the Gulf coast from central Florida to Texas The most severe loss of life and property damage occurred in New Orleans, Louisiana, which flooded as the levee system catastrophically failed, in many cases hours after the storm had moved inland.  The federal flood protection system in New Orleans failed at more than fifty places. Nearly every levee in metro New Orleans was breached as Hurricane Katrina passed just east of the city limits. Eventually 80% of the city became flooded and also large tracts of neighboring parishes, and the floodwaters lingered for weeks. At least 1,836 people lost their lives in the actual hurricane and in the subsequent floods, making it the deadliest U.S. hurricane since the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane. The storm is estimated to have been responsible for $81.2 billion  dollars in damage, making it the costliest tropical cyclone in U.S. history. Efforts to rebuild the region continue today and it is the efforts of many charitable organizations and volunteer groups. 

                Later this month Geving will travel to New Orleans with four fellow classmates from Cardinal Newman and Ursuline High School to assist with the ongoing relief and construction efforts. The effort is titled “Gold Coast to the Golf Coast” and is a community bases Senior Service Project organized by Geving and fellow students Pugs Brown, Jacob Gowan, Justin Gleason and Alyssa Ramazotti. In addition to volunteering with construction efforts the group will also be working with a specific group of children, providing them with toys and the gift of friendship which will be a great element of the project. 

                “Due to the poor relief efforts in New Orleans, many families are still homeless and our group feels that we have love and hard work to give these familiers,” reads a statement from the group that was sent to various members of the community in a fundraising effort.  In the coming days additional fund raising events  in the North Bay area will continue to take place for the project as well. 

                “I think its important for all of us to help others in need during our lives,” said Geving. “This project means far more to us then a good grade or a note on our transcripts. Its about reaching out to those who need our support and will continue to do so for years to come. Times are tough for all us right now but I think many of us tend to forget the fact that there are many people who lost their loved ones, their homes and virtually everything with little notice at all. By working together, we can all make a difference.” 

                When she is not focusing on her above 4.0 grade average at UrsulineHigh School, Geving spends much of her time racing sprint cars. In 2008 the third generation driver led the point standings at here hometown track of Petaluma Speedway for the majority of the season to become the youngest female driver in the nation to claim a sprint car championship. During here campaign she finished in the top five nearly every single night. The local fan favorite won two feature events during her chase for the crown. . In addition to the track championship, Geving also claimed the 2008 Rookie of the Year Award in the traveling Civil War Sprint Car Series this past season.  

To learn more about Alissa Geving, www.chick-o-motorsports.com.  Many members of the racing community have inquired about becoming involved with the fundraising efforts for the “Gold Coast to the GulfCoast” Senior project. Those wishing to contribute to the project or send regards may do so by mail to the office of Chicko Motorsports  c/o Alissa Geving,

                Following her charitable trip to New Orleans, Geving will return to begin her third full season of sprint car racing with appearances at Petaluma Speedway, the Civil War Sprint Car Series and the Golden State Challenge Sprint Car Series. Geving’s full racing schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.