Nashville: Kittleson continues missing child program

MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. (May 29, 2001) – American Speed Association rookie Travis Kittleson will once again help in the search for a local missing youth when the ASA ACDelco Series travels to Nashville, Tenn. for the Luxaire 300 presented by Hecht’s Departmen t Store on June 1st and 2nd at Nashville Speedway USA. Kittleson will be working with Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Criminal Intelligence Unit in search of 11-year-old Bethany Leanne Markowski.

Bethany Markowski was reported missing on March 5th of this year and was last seen in the parking lot of the Old Hickory Mall in Jackson, Tenn. at about 2:30 pm Sunday, March 4th. Bethany’s parents and investigators are still looking for any information o r leads that might help them with the return of their daughter.

“I decided if they can place pictures of missing children on milk cartons, then I could do the same on the hood of my race car,” said Kittleson. “I feel with all of the ASA races being nationally televised on TNN, we can get Asha and Bethany’s picture out to many families in the United States and hopefully reunite everyone.”

Officers from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations, along with family members of Bethany Markowski, will be attending the race on June 2nd with Kittleson and his crew.

Kittleson started his Missing Child Program during the series’ seventh event of the year, the BFGoodrich Tires 300 at Concord (N.C.) Motorsport Park, where he displayed the picture of eight-year-old Asha Degree on the hood of his Bob Steele Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The team had a respectable performance in North Carolina, finishing eighth after leading 81 laps.

“I am very honored to have met the wonderful family of Asha Degree and the detectives working on her case,” said Kittleson. “I am looking forward to meeting Bethany’s family and assisting the detective in any way I can. I would like to thank everyone who helped get pictures and information on these missing children out to as many people as possible. No matter what happens on the track, the team and I have the opportunity to win a family their children back

Kittleson will be continuing his Missing Child Program in every state the team races in, and hopes for the funding to continue this program full time.

On Friday, June 1, ASA practice begins at 11 a.m., with qualifications taking center stage at 4:30 p.m. The 100-lap qualifier race goes green at 7:30 p.m., followed by Nashville Speedway USA Late Models and Super Trucks. On Saturday, ASA’s exclusive on-tra ck autograph session is scheduled for 6 p.m., with pre-race ceremonies starting at 7:15. The Luxaire 300 presented by Hecht’s Department Store goes green at 8 p.m.

-ASA