News Releases

JOLIET, IL: CMKXtreme Machine Funny Car driver, Jeff Arend, will be a participant at this weekends 26th annual Softball Game in the Snow and Dance held in Joliet, Ill, with proceeds to benefit the Wish Upon a Star Foundation.

The annual indoor/outdoor event is the main fundraiser for the Wish Upon a Star Foundation, which is dedicated to making wishes come true for children with life-threatening illnesses. The proceeds from this event will ensure that dreams come true for children throughout the year.

This year's event will feature over 40 professional baseball players and NHRA drivers who will par take in an autograph session from 2:00 until 5:00 PM and then play a night game against the Illinois State Police.

Scheduled to appear along with Arend will be Funny Car drivers, Phil Burkart Jr., Dale Creasy, John Lawson and Gordie Bonin, along with Top Fuel racers T.J. Zizzo, Dave Hirata and motorcycle rider Larry McBride. Major league baseball players attending the event include Ron Coomer from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ron LeFlore from the Detroit Tigers, Donn Paul from the Chicago White Sox, Brandon Sing and Steve Trout from the Chicago Cubs, Joe Charboneau from the Cleveland Indians and many more.

Arend's participation is an extension of the CMKXtreme Racing team's off-track goodwill efforts during the 2004 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing season. Arend visited a dozen hospitals during the year, joined by CMKXtreme Pro Stock Bike rider, Connie Cohen. The pair signed autographs, posed for pictures and gave away CMKXtreme merchandise to hundreds of children and their families during the course of the season in an effort to bring NHRA Drag Racing to those unable to attend the races.

"I'm really excited to be able to lend my support to the Wish Upon a Star Foundation," said Arend. "The CMKXtreme Racing team has been visiting children's hospitals all across the country this season in an effort to bring a little joy to those families who are in a tough situation. It's going to be cold but we are hoping for a big turnout of NHRA Drag Racing fans to support this worthy cause."