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Friday November 5th, 1999

Mark Collie and Gibson racing toward Diabetes cure
Story and photos by: David Schenk

Country music star, Mark Collie recently held his annual Celebrity Race for Diabetes in Nashville. In it's sixth year, the event combines a pre-race party and charity auction at the Wildhorse Saloon and a series of celebrity races in Legends cars at Nashville Speedway U.S.A.

This year's celebrities consisted of sports figures, NASCAR drivers, radio personalities, and of course, country music stars. Some names of note are: Heath Shuler and Andy Kelly, former University of Tennessee football quarterbacks, Bobby Allison, Casey Atwood, The Nelsons, Kix Brooks, Mindy McCready, Anita Cochran, and Miss America 1999 Nicole Johnson.

The pre-race party concert was kicked off by Mark Collie. Other performances included Randy and Earl Scruggs, Anita Cochran, and Mindy McCready. Following the concert, Gibson Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz presented Les Paul guitars to Miss America and Bobby Allison in recognition of their support of Diabetes Research.

Then, Henry Juszkiewicz kicked off the auction by presenting an Epiphone Les Paul that sold for $2,500. The next item on the auction block was a cherry sunburst Gibson Les Paul Standard. When the bidding slowed at $3,500, Henry offered to fly the winner to New York, to have Les Paul personally autograph the instrument. The bidding quickly went up to $5,500. Then, an individual offered $10,000 for the guitar, the trip to New York, and the costume of the Legends racing series mascot "Lug Nut". After host Katie Haas checked with Lug Nut, he agreed to sell the shirt off his back for a good cause. And somebody ended up with an impressive, albeit expensive Halloween costume.

See below for highlights from the pre-race party.
Then, go to the next page for the story from the races.

Click on each photo to see a larger image.

Mark Collie kicks off the concert.

The legendary Earl Scruggs and his son Randy picking the classic Scruggs' tune "Foggy Mountain Breakdown".

The Scruggs receive a standing ovation for their performance.

The show culminates with everyone joining in, including (l to r) Miss America, Earl Scruggs, Kix Brooks, Mark Collie, Randy Scruggs, and Anita Cochran.

Gibson Chairman and CEO, Henry Juszkiewicz presenting a Gibson Les Paul Standard to Miss America 1999 Nicole Johnson.

Henry with Miss America, Bobby Allison and Mark Collie

Henry auctioning off the Les Paul Standard as Katie Haas and Lug Nut look on.

Katie Haas asking Lug Nut if he is willing to part with his costume for $10,000.

Go to the next page for photos of the racing action.