It's a cross-country rally with a purpose: to help find missing kids
FRISCO — A professional wrestler who goes by the name Raven was the host and hype man getting drivers fired up for the eighth season of The Fireball Run, starting for the first time in Frisco Square.
"We like it," said Christal Olson. "You get to see the cars and the celebrities!"
But this race is not solely focused on the famous drivers or celebrity hosts. It's about finding missing and abducted children.
Children like Wendy Diaz, who went missing in Dallas back in April 2012. The five-year-old from Richardson was last seen with her father, who failed to return her to her mother after a visit.
Frisco Mayor Maher Maso and City Council member John Keating — Team 8 in this year's Fireball Run — will be distributing Wendy's picture along a 2,000-mile ride and posting updates via social media. They are one of 40 teams that will end the ride October 4 in Independence. Missouri.
"They've all got fun and really eclectic personalities, " said Marla Rowe, executive director of the Frisco Convention and Visitors Bureau.
That might be an understatement in Doc Nigh's case. He's already done the run five times, and even married his wife Reba during one season. They're driving an iconic car — a replica of the DeLorean DMC 12 from "Back to the Future."
"I've always liked the 'Back to the Future' movies, " Nigh said. "I have always loved the car, long before the movie."
The retired California law enforcement officer is especially passionate about Fireball Run's mission.
"You take someone's child, you need to be punished for it," he said.
Nigh and his wife have returned season after season, both of them looking forward to an adventure that has helped find more than 40 children.
LINK: The Fireball Run
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