Countdown to Open House for Riley Kids

DSR drivers visit Riley Kids, Child Life Zone with more fun ahead at Friday’s 10th annual DSR Open House before U.S. Nationals

BROWNSBURG, IN – Don Schumacher Racing’s annual celebration with Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health began Wednesday afternoon with a visit from DSR’s professional drivers to the hospital who played with some Riley Kids in the new Child Life Zone play area.

The best racers in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series spent part of the afternoon with young patients and their families while the special-edition, 320-mph Riley Kids nitro Funny Car sits inside McCarran International Airport.

And now, DSR community engines are revving for its biggest celebration of the year with racers and fans from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the 10th annual DSR Open House to raise funds and awareness for Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health (RileyKids.org).

“This is one of the proudest days for everyone at DSR,” hall-of-fame owner Don Schumacher said. “There is no better way for us to start our biggest NHRA drag racing weekend of the year.”

DSR drivers with Riley Kid Ben Burchard of Brownsburg during Wednesday’s visit to the Child Life Zone at Riley Hospital for Children at Indianapolis University Health.

DSR’s Tony Schumacher, Antron Brown, Jack Beckman, Matt Hagan and Tommy Johnson Jr., who will drive the Riley Kids Funny Car when the U.S. Nationals opens its four-day run Friday, challenged some Riley Kids to games of foosball and air hockey at Riley in the largest Child Life Zone (TeammatesForKids.com) in the country.

“This is what it’s all about,” said Hagan. “I’m blessed to have to healthy kids at home and nothing is better this week than to help some kids going through some tough times.”

DSR has been dominating this year in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series with record-setting performances but those accomplishments complement a greater effort to instill fight and hope in children being challenged and the success of Friday’s Open House will further DSR’s contributions of more than $300,000 over the past nine years to Riley Children’s Foundation.

The public is invited Friday to attend the 10th annual DSR Open House to benefit Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health.

A special feature of the day will be at 12:30 p.m. when DSR announces exciting plans for expanding the 120,000-square-foot DSR headquarters at 1681 E. Northfield Drive in Brownsburg.

All seven DSR drivers and Schumacher will participate in an hour-long autograph session beginning at 12:45 p.m.
The festive event will feature a giant car and bike show, silent auction, various displays, some of the area’s best food trucks and a big nitro Cacklefest when 10 nostalgia Top Fuel dragsters will fire-up nitro-fueled engines.

DSR’s support for Riley, Indiana’s only comprehensive hospital dedicated exclusively to the care of children, will extend for a second year to running the #RileyDreamRacer Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car with driver Tommy Johnson Jr. and funded by Terry Chandler.

Silent Auction on-line!
You do not have attend Friday’s DSR Open House to participate in the silent auction for Riley Kids and, if attending, you can follow your bids live on-line and receive a text or email if someone tops your bid.

Go register at http://dsr15.auction-bid.org and click on REGISTER FOR AUCTION at the top of the homepage.

You can register now and bidding will open 5 p.m. (ET) Thursday.