Approximately 1,000 people gathered Tuesday evening at the new Cabarrus County Boys & Girls Club to take part in the organization’s 14th annual Steak & Burger Dinner. Four-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon served as the keynote speaker for the fund-raising event, which raised a record high $83,600 in proceeds that will go to the club. Last year’s event netted $59,000. Gordon addressed the crowd for about a half hour — much of which was spent answering intuitive questions that were posed from youngsters. One child wondered which drivers Gordon considers to be his friends. Gordon responded with a bit of a chuckle and said, for the most part, he gets along with everyone on the NASCAR circuit. While tempers may sometimes flare between drivers on Sundays, that’s usually as far as it goes, he said. As a sidenote, Megan Baker was named the recipient of the local Boys & Girls Club’s 18th annual Mariam Schramm Award. Evan Carpenter was awarded with the club’s Boyce Sherrin Award. George Liles Jr. was awarded the Boys & Girls Club of America Volunteer Service Award.( Independent Tribune )(2-5-2003)
