JACKSONVILLE, NC – New River All-American Speedway will once again host the Ronnie Hetu Memorial on Saturday, March 18 with Mini-Stocks headlining the event which honors the life and legacy of the late Ronnie Hetu.
Hetu, who was born on January 4, 1959 and passed away on March 11, 2021, was a former racer of 30 years and a longtime presence in the infield at Coastal Plains Raceway, now called New River All-American Speedway. As a driver, he scored multiple Legend Car and Mini-Stock victories at the now-defunct Fireball Raceway in Leland, and had even more success as a car owner and crew chief, working with drivers such as Chris Kenney, Larry Hall, Kevin Kenney, Briant Bryant, and his son, Kris Hetu.
“It’s a special thing the Goodyears are doing for our family by respecting my dad enough to name a race after him,” Kris Hetu said. “This was his all-time favorite track and I’m happy to be a part of this event.”
While Hetu was not on track for last year’s race, he did help guide Robert Strmiska to victory as a spotter. This season, Hetu hopes to get back in the saddle of a Mini-Stock for the event.
The Mini Stock portion of the Ronnie Hetu Memorial will be 50 laps, paying $1,000-to-win. In addition to the Mini Stocks, Chargers, Bombers, Champ Karts, Mini Cups and Jr. Mini Cups will all be in action.
New River All-American Speedway general manager Jack Ward knew Ronnie Hetu from the years he spent working at the track as a flagman or track official.
“I knew Ronnie for a long time and am really looking forward to the second annual Ronnie Hetu Memorial race to celebrate his life and legacy,” Ward said. “He was a man who would give you the shirt off his back and help anyone, but on the racetrack, he was a fierce competitor and won his share of races. His knowledge of race car construction and setup was surpassed by no one. I miss seeing him around the track and know he appreciates our efforts to remember him. I want to thank Ronnie’s family for allowing us to celebrate his memory.”
The Ronnie Hetu Memorial will take place on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 7pm. Tickets will be available at the gate for $15, with $5 from each ticket sold, along with additional proceeds from the event going to benefit area families being impacted by cancer battles.
New River All-American Speedway is Jacksonville’s Action Attraction featuring racing and other events. For more information about New River All-American Speedway, check out the speedway’s website, like/follow “New River Speedway” on Facebook, follow @newriverswy on Twitter, or follow the track on Instagram.
