Kimberly Myers
Every once in awhile, racing also has a real life inspirational story to tell. Such is the case with Kimberly Myers. At 18 years old, she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. She vowed to be a role model for others inflicted with the disease and to show how you could still live your best life.
Kimberly had an interest in auto racing, and in 1990 her boyfriend Chris Collett purchased an old beat up Street Stock. In 1991, she raced at Antioch Speedway and won a close battle for "Rookie of the Year" honors. A year later, she did the same thing at Watsonville Speedway. She won Main Events at both Watsonville and Petaluma .
Kimberly had a need for speed, and she moved up to the Late Model division in 1994. She won the "Rookie of the Year" award in that class as well.
Her inspirational story was receiving national attention by then. She was honored as the NASCAR Maxwell House Real Hero award winner in 1993 and received the Motorsports Press Association "Person of the Year" award a year later.
Kimberly had a story to tell, and she made several appearances on TV. She also made it a point to visit children in the hospital as they battled cystic fibrosis. Right to the end, she was a fighter and an example of how you meet adversity with a positive attitude.
After Kimberly passed away, good friends Lori and Ron Brown decided to run the #65 roses on their cars and used it as a way to promote awareness of cystic fibrosis. They also created the Kimberly Myers Real Hero award that has been handed out several times at the Antioch Speedway awards banquet.
Kimberly had an interest in auto racing, and in 1990 her boyfriend Chris Collett purchased an old beat up Street Stock. In 1991, she raced at Antioch Speedway and won a close battle for "Rookie of the Year" honors. A year later, she did the same thing at Watsonville Speedway. She won Main Events at both Watsonville and Petaluma .
Kimberly had a need for speed, and she moved up to the Late Model division in 1994. She won the "Rookie of the Year" award in that class as well.
Her inspirational story was receiving national attention by then. She was honored as the NASCAR Maxwell House Real Hero award winner in 1993 and received the Motorsports Press Association "Person of the Year" award a year later.
Kimberly had a story to tell, and she made several appearances on TV. She also made it a point to visit children in the hospital as they battled cystic fibrosis. Right to the end, she was a fighter and an example of how you meet adversity with a positive attitude.
After Kimberly passed away, good friends Lori and Ron Brown decided to run the #65 roses on their cars and used it as a way to promote awareness of cystic fibrosis. They also created the Kimberly Myers Real Hero award that has been handed out several times at the Antioch Speedway awards banquet.
Check out Kimberly's story here: www.65rosesracing.org