While most American families will be gathered around a bountiful feast this Thanksgiving, several American kart racers will be competing in La Conca, Italy for the 2008 Rotax World Finals, a competition that places the top Rotax Max karters on the globe alongside one another to crown a World Champion in three classes.

Team USA will send a team of fourteen racers to the 2008 World Finals this year with an added goal besides making America proud. The team will also be racing for autism. In addition to sponsors, Mazda & SSC Racing, Team USA will represent the autism awareness website, www.RaceNowForAutism.org, as their official charity for Team USA during the World Finals in an effort to raise funds for families affected by autism.

Tess Kotecki became the first athlete to "Race Now For Autism" at this year's Reeds Lake Triathlon in East Grand Rapids, MI. The 30-year-old mother of two completed the 1/2-mile swin, 17.2-mile bike and 4.9-mile run in a time of 2:05:51 to place in 23rd in her division. Tess finished the race over 30-minutes better than her last attempt several years ago and she thanked the motivation of racing for autism awareness while raising over $500 for area families affected by autism.

Velo City Cycles pledges to assist Kotecki in training for the Reed's Lake Triathlon. The Holland, MI bicycle shop welcomed Kotecki to their shop and adjusted a bike specifically to her to assist her in her quest to raise funds & awareness for autism.

Tess Kotecki will compete in the Reed's Lake Triathlon for "RaceNowforautism.org". The 29-year-old Holland, MI native and mother of two has vowed to complete in the Rhoades McKee Reeds Lake Triathlon event on September 6th in an effort to raise awareness for autism.

Acclaimed author, Sam Moses, got behind the wheel of the RaceNowforautism.org Mazda MX-5 Cup racecar at the Portland Grand Prix. Moses recent book, "Rich Guys, Fast Guys & Idiots", was recently named one of the five best books ever written about motorsports by the Wall Street Journal Book Review. The author drove the RaceNowforautism.org Mazda, also adorned with graphics of his latest book, to a 19th place finish.