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AUTOGuide ANTON
SEPTEMBER 18 - 24, 2019
Racing For The FDNY New York-based NASCAR team dedicated to honoring fallen heroes BY JOSEPH WOLKIN
jwolkin@antonmediagroup.com
F
ew NASCAR teams are relaxed on a race weekend. The hours upon hours of preparing a racecar take a mental and physical toll on those working to succeed come race time. However, there is one group that shows up on occasion, aiming to have fun and does so for a cause. Jim Rosenblum, who had been fielding an entry in what was known as the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series since 1995, wanted to do something special to remember
the lives of those who perished in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. A New Yorker himself, Rosenblum has always been surrounded by first responders. He lives in Mamaroneck, a calm area in the midst of Westchester County. But in 2001, Jim Rosenblum Racing, which only ran a handful of races from 1996 to 2000, was renamed to FDNY Racing. FDNY Racing, to this day, consists of NYPD and FDNY
servicemen, heroes away from the track. Every few months, truck No. 28 shows up to the racetrack in the red and white colors of the FDNY fire trucks, quite the moving tribute for those in the busy life of motor sports. “Without Jim Rosenblum, I never would’ve gotten as many opportunities as I did in my career,” Ryan Ellis, who drove for FDNY Racing from 2014-16, said. “He took a chance on me when I was very new to the sport and together we
created some really good memories together. Some of the most fun times I ever had in the sport were with the FDNY racing crew and family. They’re one of a kind and just go to the track to have fun. I’m forever thankful for Jim and everyone involved.” In Feburary of 2016, Farmingdale’s Mark and Rosanne Knight were watching a Truck Series race, the first of the year at Daytona International Speedway.
see FDNY RACING on page 22A