Consider, briefly, the greatest moments in racing history.
Which moment tops the rest? Was it the multi-medal triumph of Jessie Owens at the 1936 Munich Olympic Games?
Or perhaps Pheidippides crying "Nike" (victory) before he died after running 26.2 miles from Marathon to Athens in 490 B.C.? How about Secretariat’s 31-length shellacking of the competition at the Belmont Stakes, sealing the 1973 Triple Crown?
Now, consider this: a race of smaller proportions and humbler, rounder contestants --- namely, armadillos. That's right. Official "racing" armadillos are coming to the 2017 M1 Ball: American Cowboy, the annual fundraising event for Mercury One, hosted by Glenn and Tania Beck.
While probably not destined for the history books, this race is certain to be epic in its own right --- and just the kind of race Glenn would find himself joining.
We just can't wait to see it for ourselves.
How will it work?
On November 18, 2017, six personalities from TheBlaze TV will enter an armadillo of their choice into a "Dillo Derby" at the M1 Ball in Dallas, Texas. Viewers can support their favorite personality by donating to Mercury One on his behalf. Whoever garners the most support will get first dibs on his armadillo.
Who are the contestants?
The lineup includes Glenn Beck, Doc Thompson, Stu Burguiere, Pat Gray, Jeffy Fisher and Brad Staggs. As of Tuesday afternoon, Glenn isn't doing so great compared to the others --- he's only raised one dollar so far... And chances are, he donated that dollar himself.
Screen shot from MercuryOne.org/armadillo, taken on November 7, 2017.
Want to support a contestant? Donate to support your favorite here.
How can I watch the race?
If you are unable to attend in person, the race will be broadcast on Facebook Live via Mercury One's Facebook page. Stay tuned for updates by following Mercury One on Facebook here.
How does the race benefit Mercury One
The race and the M1 Ball event support Mercury One, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, by "keeping the lights on" so they can work in 2018 to restore the human spirit. You may be familiar with the work they've done in 2017, from helping Christians and other persecuted minority religions in the Middle East, to rescuing individuals held captive by ISIS, fighting human trafficking, helping youth become strong members of their community and sending aid to natural disaster zones such as Florida, Puerto Rico, California and Houston.