Every auction or benefit needs a signature item to entice bidders and create excitement with the public.
Kolten Gouse thought long and hard about the featured piece for this year’s National Open Benefit, which is scheduled to take place October 3 at Williams Grove Speedway.
And the final elements came together this week.
The highlight of this year’s National Open Benefit will be helmet worn by Sprint Car star Brian Brown. The Midwest standout will wear the specially painted helmet at this year’s Knoxville Nationals.
“I’m honored that Kolten asked me to wear the National Open Benefit helmet this year,” Brown said.
“It’s an event with so much history and prestige. I’m hoping by me wearing the helmet, I can be a small part of this great benefit.”
Said Toby Hallett, of Bell Helmets, “We are thrilled to be a part of this great fundraiser. We have been doing helmets for Brian for several years, and we are honored to be a part of the National Open Benefit with him.”
This isn’t an item reserved for those with deep pockets. Every Sprint Car fan in the country has an opportunity to win this prize.
Entries for Brown’s helmet are $10 and three for $25. They will be sold in the World of Outlaws T-Shirt trailer starting July 3-4 at Dodge City Speedway. They can also be purchased at Brian Brown’s T-Shirt trailer during the August Knoxville Nationals.
If you can’t get to a World of Outlaws event or to Knoxville, you can purchase a ticket by emailing the National Open Benefit website.
Noah Ennis, of Shell Shock, spent hours designing and painting the helmet for this year’s benefit.
Brown was an easy choice to represent the cause this year. He finished second to Donny Schatz in the last two Knoxville Nationals and will wear the helmet on his qualifying night.
“I am really honored to be a part of such a great event that raises money to help drivers and their families,” Ennis said. “The amount of success that the National Open Benefit has had goes to show that the racing community is a big family and is there for their fellow competitors.
“I have been painting Brian Brown’s helmets since Shell Shock started in 2009, and we have done a lot of really cool paint jobs. This ranks right up there with some of my personal favorites.
“I hope the fans agree, and the helmet goes to a good home. More important, I hope it raises a lot of money for the benefit.”
The National Open Benefit takes place on Day 3 of this year’s Williams Grove National Open. The benefit begins at 11 a.m. with a chicken barbeque sponsored by Mohawk Northeast. The auction will follow.
“Last year, we had Steve Kinser wear the helmet,” said Gouse, organizer of the National Open Benefit Fund.
“It was very cool for us, and I feel having Brian Brown as a part of the National Open Benefit is a great representation of what we’re trying to do, which is raising money for injured drivers.”