PALMETTO, Fla. — We’re used to seeing Scott Dixon racing on the IndyCar circuit, but last week he was driving a different set of wheels.

“It’s a little hard, it’s definitely a lot of ringers, the little karts kids and some of them can be 70 pounds lighter, which makes a big difference for these things, but of course, anything with a stopwatch and four wheels, and a steering wheel is going to be competitive for us out here so it’s a ton of fun,” Dixon said.

Dixon, along with other pro drivers, took part in Kart 4 Kids — a pro-am charity kart race serving as a fundraiser for Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

“Kart 4 Kids was started 14 years ago, when unfortunately in 2011, one of our local residents, Dan Whelen has passed away in an IndyCar race and Dave Bassett decided to start a charity and the rest is history really,” said Kart 4 Kids President Chris Russick.

Now, the pro-am has become a St. Pete Grand Prix tradition for IndyCar drivers like Dixon. He’s raced every year since Kart 4 Kids was founded.

“It’s nice to be able to come here and hang out with a lot of the locals, have a little bit of a race and hopefully no crashes, and a lot of fun,” Dixon said.

What You Need To Know

  • Before the IndyCar drivers hit the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg track, some of them raced on a different kind of course, and it was all to support a local cause. 

  • Scott Dixon along with other pro drivers took part in Kart 4 Kids — a pro-am charity kart race serving as a fundraiser for Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

  • Kart 4 Kids has raised over two million dollars for Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital over the past 14 years. It was founded in 2011 to honor St. Petersburg Dan Whelen, who was killed in an IndyCar race. 

It’s the support of the drivers that keep this event a success year after year.

“The drivers really make it happen because being a pro-am, if we don’t have pros, we really don’t have an amateur race either. So that’s really where the magic happens,” said Russick.

What started out as a $6,000 fundraiser in 2012 has grown to over $350,00.

“Anything you can do for children you know, it’s such a tough, difficult stage of your life where just growing up is half the battle, and something that’s out of your control that can take over your life so, for all of us, that’s why we’re here,” said Dixon.

While IndyCar drivers are certainly competitive, they all win at this event.