Following the 1999 disappearance of 12-yr-old Mikelle Biggs out of Mesa, AZ local NASCAR driver Darrell LaMoure, #94 with the Southwest AutoZone Series decided to change the focus of his pro- fession. Darrell teamed up with the National Center for Missing Adults (NCMA), whose office is based in Phoenix, to expand his career to include something that would benefit victims families. Together Darrell LaMoure and NCMA created the Racing for the Missing Program.
This program disseminates information about missing persons by profiling one person on the hood of a NASCAR at each and every race. Being the most widely watched spectator sport in the United States, the success in profiling a missing person was a just cause, considering the space on the hood was donated, forfeiting any possibility of having a sponsor that would undoubtedly bring extra funding for their program.
Since the inception of the Racing for the Missing Program, Darrell LaMoure has expanded his pro- gram to include CA resident and driver Jim Pettit II, #03 also from the Southwest AutoZone Series. Jim is a front-runner in his division, being the 2004 Southwest Series Champion gaining additional media exposure for the persons he also profiles on the hood of his car at each race.
Following the July 2, 2006 race in Altamont Speedway in Tracy, CA, Jim Pettit II profiled the miss- ing person, Charles Joshua Debes, missing since December 25, 2003. The event included the at- tendance of twenty family members of the two missing persons selected for both cars. The media was present and profiled Debes’ information not locally, but nationally as well.
After a witness reported recognizing Debes from the media exposure, and Debes saw the coverage himself, the case took a turn giving it a wonderfully happy ending. On July 12, 2006 after being re- ported to the police and missing for nearly three years, Debes was located safe. Debes indicated had no idea that his family had filed a report on him. He had moved out of state to start a new life for himself and after family members in California had moved, he had no way to contact them. The situation left the family fearing the worst and frantically searching for him.
Undoubtedly the success of the Racing for the Missing Program reunited Charles Debes with his family and made an additional success story for the police, for the community, for the drivers, and for the National Center for Missing Adults.
“The owner, General Manager and entire staff at the Altamont Raceway Park went out of their way to do everything they could to help the families of both missing persons, “ reported Darrell LaMoure, director of the program. “From the heart, my family and I are very happy for the Debes’ and for all the families with missing loved ones,” Darrell continued. “This safe recovery provides hope that others will return safely to their families."
Creating awareness of missing persons is NCMA’s primary focus. Racing for the Missing is one
program that proves successful in generating leads for these families and it helps make this
agency’s mission undoubtedly worthwhile. For more information please visit
www.missingadults. org.
