‘Fastest Pastor’ Returns to Pikes Peak International Hill Climb for Fifth Consecutive Year
World-Famous Competitor and Centerpiece of the I Am Second Film, ‘Chasing Hope’
NEWS SOURCE: A. Larry Ross Comm.
WHAT:
Pastor, entrepreneur and race car driver, Don Wickstrum, will return to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 25, 2023. Beyond conquering the feat of his first race in 2019, an exciting challenge of a lifetime, Wickstrum’s story entails pushing through doubts, surviving crashes and coping with an aggressive cancer diagnosis.
Also known as ‘The Race to the Clouds,’ Pikes Peak is the second-oldest motorsports race in America. Boasting 156 turns over a 12.42-mile course, beginning at over 9,300 feet and ending at 14,115 feet above sea level, the harrowing course has long served as a driver’s proving ground. Conquering the climb has been a dream of Wickstrum’s since he first saw the race on TV at eight years old.
Don overcame all obstacles — even with a troublesome motor — and went on to finish 2nd in his class and 11th overall in the 2021 PPIHC. The next year in 2022, Don fulfilled a lifelong dream of reaching the Summit on the 100th running of the Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb. Driven by perseverance and hope, Wickstrum’s lifelong journey toward Pikes Peak has only spurred his return to the esteemed race each year, serving as a profound inspiration to others. Refusing to let his battle with cancer steal his joy and determination, his story encourages audiences, old and young, to achieve their lifelong dreams — even and especially through adversity.
The weekend-long event features the International Hill Climb Race, Fan Fest and opportunities to meet the acclaimed racer himself. Fan Fest will be held on the Friday evening before Race Day, where more than 30,000 people will gather in the heart of Downtown Colorado Springs to experience this widely-anticipated 10-block street party. Don Wickstrum will serve as a key piece in this epic event weekend of innovation and competition, bringing excitement, encouragement and vision to audiences everywhere in this ongoing larger-than-life story.
WHO:
Don Wickstrum is a pastor, entrepreneur, engineer and competitor at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Don and his family live and Monroe, Wisconsin. Visit https://fastestpastor.com/ for more information about Don.
I Am Second is a nonprofit launched in 2008 that ignites hope and inspires people to live for God and for others. Its website, iamsecond.com, features written and film-based stories of more than 150 athletes, actors, models, musicians, cultural influencers and everyday people who have stepped in front of the camera and declared, “I Am Second.” For more information, visit iamsecond.com.
Last year, I Am Second released “Chasing Hope,” an exclusive short documentary that offers viewers an intimate look at entrepreneur, pastor and racer, Don Wickstrum’s years-long journey to conquer the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb while leaning on his faith and battling an aggressive cancer diagnosis.
You can watch the film here: https://www.iamsecond.com/film/chasing-hope/
WHEN/WHERE:
Fan Fest – Friday, June 23
5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Downtown Colorado Springs, CO
Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Race – Sunday, June 25
Event start: 2:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Race begins at 7:30 a.m.
Location: 5089 Pike Peak Highway, Cascade, CO 80809