GONCZY TO TAKE ANOTHER PLUNGE!!!
By: Kevin Ramsell

BURLINGTON, WI (Wednesday, February 11, 2009) - He is doing it again and his goal is to raise twice as more as he did last year. Gary Gonczy, Marketing Manager for Kwik Trips Stores Inc. will once again take the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Wisconsin on Saturday, March 7th.

Gonczy helped formed the relationship with Kwik Trip and the ASA Midwest Tour, is going to be participating in his 11th Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Wisconsin.

"My wife timed me one time and from the time my foot hit the water to when I got out, it was only ten seconds," Gonczy stated. "One year it was about 70 degrees and the coldest was a wind chill of 19 below and I think the water felt colder when it was 70 degrees out."

The Polar Plunge takes place in ten different locations in Wisconsin. It started eleven years ago and Gonczy was part of the initial committee to set up this fun event. Since then, the Polar Plunge has helped raised over $6 million for Special Olympics Wisconsin.

"I have always had a soft spot in my heart for people with disabilities," Gonczy stated. "My wife and I got involved by volunteering at their summer games in Stevens Point. It was great to watch these special athletes try so hard. Even though they may not win, they go away with the satisfaction that they did their best, and that is what is important."

Gonczy's goal for 2009 is to personally raise $10,000, last year he rose over $5,000 and met his goal.

If you would like to make a pledge and help Gary reach his personal goal, you can do that online at: https://www.specialolympicswisconsin.org/pp09/pledge.asp?id_p=1118 or you can e-mail a check made out to Special Olympics Wisconsin c/o Gary Gonczy, 424 11th Ave S, Onalaska, WI 54650. Gonczy requests that payment be sent prior to his March 7th plunge.

"I would like to personally encourage all of our race teams, their families, and our fans to take a few minutes and donate to a great cause," Steve Einhaus, ASAMT VP stated. "The ASA Midwest Tour is dedicated to supporting Special Olympics Wisconsin and Gary Gonzcy and your donation would be a great thank you to Gary for all of his support."

Besides Gonczy being involved, many Kwik Trip employees from around the state also have been involved. Gonczy stated that an average of 30-50 employees participate at each location. One year, nearly 100 employees participated at the Eau Claire plunge.
Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) is a statewide organization providing persons with cognitive disabilities year-round sports training and competition. Individuals who are at least eight years old and are identified as having cognitive disability are eligible for participation.

SOWI has seven area offices throughout the state and serves nearly 10,000 athletes in 220 communities statewide. SOWI is one of 50 state programs and one of nearly 130 countries providing this opportunity to more than one million athletes worldwide. Part of its mission is to give individuals with cognitive disabilities the continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Kwik Trip Stores is a Premier Partner to Special Olympics Wisconsin.
For more information on Special Olympics Wisconsin, please visit their website at www.specialolympicswisconsin.com.

Kwik Trip Stores Inc. is the title sponsor of the ASA Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment.

To learn more about the American Speed Association Kwik Trip Midwest Tour presented by Echo Outdoor Power Equipment log on to www.asamidwesttour.com or call the ASA Midwest Tour office at (262) 514-3880 or e-mail Tim Olson at tim@asamidwesttour.com or Steve Einhaus at steve@asamidwesttour.com.

To learn more of the Daytona Beach, Florida-based Racing Speed Associates or the American Speed Association Racing Member Track program, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from racetracks and regional tours involved in the American Speed Association, visit www.asaracing.com.

ASA™, ASA Racing™ and American Speed Association® are trademarks of Racing Speed Associates, LLC.  Racing Speed Associates, LLC is not related to or affiliated with ASA Late Model Series, LLC.

2009 Plunge Dates & Locations
2/7/2009 - Stevens Point Polar Plunge, Rusty's Backwater Saloon
2/7/2009 - Pleasant Prairie Polar Plunge, Lake Andrea Rec Plex
2/8/2009 - Muskego Polar Plunge, Muskego County Park
2/21/2009 - Oshkosh Polar Plunge, Menominee Park
2/21/2009 - Madison Polar Plunge, Olin Turville Park
2/21/2009 - Whitewater Polar Plunge, Cravath Lakefront Park
2/22/2009 - Eau Claire Polar Plunge, Half Moon Beach in Carson Park
2/28/2009 - Wausau Polar Plunge, Sunnyvale Man Made Park
2/28/2009 - Green Bay Polar Plunge, The Watering Hole
3/7/2009 - Coulee Region Polar Plunge, Black River Beach
3/7/2009 - Milwaukee Polar Plunge, Bradford Beach