CINCINNATI,
Ohio - Brad
Jaeger and Kevin
Doran teamed with
Cincinnati Bengals
linebacker coach
Jeff FitzGerald to
win Friday's Shayne
Graham Celebrity
Raceoff on the kart
track at the
Motorsports Country
Club of Cincinnati
in Batavia, Ohio.
The Doran
Racing-sponsored
team edged defensive
end Frostee Rucker's
Premier Business
Management team and
Graham - a veteran
pro bowl kicker who
raced with Mercy
Health Partners.
"It was an
hour-long race using
nine-horsepower
Honda 4-stroke
karts," Jaeger said.
"It was a pretty
nice kart for being
a corporate event,
with a nice mix of
people."
Doran recently
joined the club,
where he drives his
shifter kart in a
golf club atmosphere
and frequently
participates in the
Wednesday evening
members-only races.
The Doran Racing
No. 77 McDonald's
Ford Dallara and
John Wright's
Phillips Way Racing
Porsche were among
the race cars on
display at the
Raceoff.
"It was a great
event," Doran said.
"There were about
12-15 Bengals
players, and a lot
of media. It
generated a lot of
money for kids.
"Jeff is a real
cool guy and a huge
race fan," Doran
said of his
co-driver. "He's a
certified Richard
Petty Driving
Experience
instructor, and
gives rides during
the off-season."
FitzGerald also
joined Wright's pit
crew for the 2009
Rolex 24 At Daytona,
helping the team to
a third place finish
in the Acxiom GT
class.
"Jeff really
loved the event,"
Doran said. "He'll
be back for next
year's Rolex 24 - if
the Bengals aren't
in the Super Bowl."
According to an
article on
www.bengals.com,
FitzGerald was one
of the celebrities
recruited by Graham
for an event he
hoped raised
anywhere between
$50-70,000 for his
foundation with
$5,000 per the 10
carts. It was an
obvious call.
FitzGerald is a
race-car enthusiast
who drove stocks
this past winter and
spring at Daytona,
Bristol and
Darlington as a
member of the
Richard Petty
Experience.
"We gave guests a
ride before the
races, but it was a
fast ride," said
FitzGerald, who had
it at 180 miles per
hour at Daytona.
That wasn't quite
nearly the speed
Friday in Batavia.
But FitzGerald was
still eying the
trophy before the
race.
"This is
playing," he said.
"But I always want
to win."