Busch cars carry tributes during Charter 250

MADISON, Ill. -- When the green flag drops in Saturday night's Charter Pipeline 250 for the Busch Series race at Gateway International Raceway, various tributes will be adorning all or some of the cars.

Randy LaJoir carries a tribute to St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck Credit: VPS Motorimages

The entire 43-car field will carry stickers remember driver Andy Kirby and crewman Barry Caldwell. Kirby was killed in a motorcycle accident on Thursday in his hometown of White House, Tenn. Caldwell lost a battle with cancer on July 11 and was a tire changer for the No. 43 series entry of Curb-Agajanian Motorsports.

Stickers will simply read, "In Loving Memory," and were donated by the Decal Source and Brewco Motorsports and were handed out by the Busch Series Ladies Association. Kirby attempted four races for Brewco in 2000.

In addition to tributes for members of the racing fraternity, two other teams will be racing in remembrance for others.

ALSO • Busch regular Andy Kirby killed in motorcycle crash

Randy LaJoie will carry a tribute to St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck, who passed away last month. LaJoie's Chevy will carry a sticker with Buck's name and a microphone on the hood.

"Jack Buck meant so much to the city of St. Louis," LaJoie said. "I wanted to do something and I knew we needed to have some type of a tribute car. It's kind of upsetting, in a way, when you want to do something like this and all the red tape you have to go through to get it done.

Ashton Lewis' car honors the memory of two fallen Civil Air Patrol members Credit: VPS Motorimages

"In the St. Louis area, Jack Buck was a non-stop hero and I feel all of us should carry something on the car being that we're in this area this weekend.

"After the race, we're going to give the hood to a radio station to auction off. I'd love to give it to them right out of Victory Lane, too."

Ashton Lewis is sponsored by the Civic Air Patrol on the No. 46 Chevy that he drives. Earlier this week, two members of the CAP were killed in a single-engine plane accident in Tyner, N.C.

Lewis will carry decals on the B-posts of his car that read, "In Memory -- Volunteer Service to America -- North Carolina Wing -- Civil Air Patrol," in honor Anthony Futrell and Robert Kennedy, the two men killed in the crash.