A jacket autographed by Emporia’s NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer sold for $1,000 Tuesday night during a fundraising concert and auction for Emporia businessman Dan Tebbetts.
“It went really well,” said Connie Lewis, one of the organizers for the series of fundraisers underway for Tebbetts. “We grossed about, a little over $8,000, and that didn’t include any tickets we had sold previously to the night.”
Tebbetts, who owns D&T Auto Sales and Emporia Muffler, was diagnosed with bladder cancer last year. After undergoing treatment to shrink the size of the tumor, Tebbetts’s surgeons who were removing the bladder tumor discovered the cancer had spread to his stomach.
Fundraisers are being held to help pay expenses for treatment.
On Tuesday, Callie Agler and a backup band brought together for the occasion and a second group, The Usual Suspects, provided entertainment during the evening.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better outcome and outpouring from the community,” Lewis said. “I can’t thank our sponsors enough. It was just great. It was almost overwhelming.”
Organizers were amazed at the bidding on the jacket autographed by Bowyer, which was won by Kurt Steinkuhler..
“It was a fight between him and Jim Kessler,” Lewis said.
Kessler went home with a die-cast No. 33 car, also autographed by Bowyer. It was the first in the die-cast series and sold for $175.
Dan and Jennell Tebbetts’ son, Neil, had the high bid of $175 for a cap autographed by the entire Richard Childress racing team, including Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick, Casey Mears, and Childress.
“It couldn’t have been any better, unless Dan was there,” Lewis said.
Tebbetts has been hospitalized this week because of severe abdominal pain and weight loss. Lewis said that he is showing improvement, though is likely to be in the hospital for the remainder of the week.
Tickets are still available for the fundraising raffle for a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro. The suggested donation is $20 for one ticket or $50 for three tickets.
The car is nearing completion at Advanced Auto and should be on display soon.
Tickets are available at Brady Optical, Crown Vic, D&T Auto Sales, Midas Touch Golden Tans, Cooper Tire, Bruff’s or from Connie or Larry Lewis. More information may be had by calling 342-0826.