NASCAR auction to benefit family of slain deputy

Car owner Jimmy Means is donating items for Saturday event.

This Jimmy Means Racing Inc. car that crashed in practice before the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway last year was cut up and the pieces will be auctioned off in a fundraiser Saturday to benefit the Suzanne Waughtel Hopper Memorial Fund and her family. Photo courtesy of the Clark County Sheriff's Office

HANDOUT This Jimmy Means Racing Inc. car that crashed in practice before the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway last year was cut up and the pieces will be auctioned off in a fundraiser Saturday to benefit the Suzanne Waughtel Hopper Memorial Fund and her family. Photo courtesy of the Clark County Sheriff's Office

ENLARGE PHOTO

Sheriff's Deputy Dave Perks (left) and Sgt. Chris Clark (right) present Jimmy Means with a framed letter of thanks. A decal (right) was placed on Jimmy Means Racing Inc.'s cars during the 2011 season.
Photos courtesy of the Clark County Sheriff's Office

HANDOUT Sheriff's Deputy Dave Perks (left) and Sgt. Chris Clark (right) present Jimmy Means with a framed letter of thanks. A decal (right) was placed on Jimmy Means Racing Inc.'s cars during the 2011 season. Photos courtesy of the Clark County Sheriff's Office

ENLARGE PHOTO

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Updated 10:20 PM Friday, February 3, 2012

By Mark McGregor

Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD — NASCAR might seem an unexpected source of emotional support for slain Sheriff’s Deputy Suzanne Waughtel Hopper’s family.

But throughout last year’s race season, NASCAR owner Jimmy Means saw to it that a decal memorializing Hopper was placed on Jimmy Means Racing Inc.’s number 52 cars, Sgt. Chris Clark said. The decal was displayed above the rear side windows.

And Saturday, various body panels of a Nationwide Series car that displayed the decal and crashed in practice at Daytona nearly a year ago will be auctioned off to benefit her family financially.

Other auction items include four “Support our Troops” tires used in a Nationwide Series race held in Phoenix on Veterans Day 2011 and several memorial decals that appeared on the No. 52 car during the season.

Some items are autographed by Jimmy Means.

Funds will go to the Suzanne Hopper Trust at Wright-Patt Credit Union.

Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly will serve as the auctioneer.

The idea for the decal started with Springfielder Mark Sanders, a member of the Jimmy Means team and longtime friend of the fallen deputy.

After Hopper was ambushed and shot to death, Sanders said he wanted to pay tribute to her. Because he is part of a race team and knew she enjoyed racing, he decided the decal was the best way to go.

The team also welcomed Clark and Deputy Dave Perks in the pits during several races last year, Clark said.

“We got to know the team, and they wanted to do something for family,” Clark said. “(Jimmy Means) bent over backward to help our department and to help out and honor Suzanne’s sacrifice.”

Monetary donations will be taken during the event, and the public can still donate to the fund at any Wright-Patt Credit Union branch.

The Springfield Youth Baseball Association Hall donated the space for the auction and will offer concessions.

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