On July 4, 2026, more than 600 runners, walkers, and families gathered at Wintersmith Park for the Fireball Classic Memorial Race, raising over $46,000 for Back to School Basics and teacher grants for Pontotoc County students and educators. It was one of the most successful races in the event's history, made possible by the generosity of Ada's community, businesses, and sponsors.
This July 4th, Wintersmith Park came alive in the best possible way. More than 600 runners, walkers, families, and volunteers filled the park for the 2026 Fireball Classic Memorial Race, the largest turnout in recent memory and one of the strongest fundraising performances in the event's history.
Together, participants, donors, and sponsors raised more than $46,000 to benefit Back to School Basics, Ada Sunrise Rotary's annual project that provides school supplies and support benefiting more than 1,000 Pontotoc County students and teachers each year. Race registrations and individual donations accounted for $21,317.69 of that total, including $903 given by community members who wanted to contribute even without competing. Another $24,950 came from our generous race sponsors. Every dollar stays local and goes directly to students who need it.
Those funds will support teacher grants for area educators, providing to local teachers for classroom supplies, and more! The students of Pontotoc County are well-served by the people who show up for them every day, and we are glad to show up for those educators in return.
The 2026 race featured four events: the 10K Run, the 5K Run, the Family Fun Run and Walk sponsored by Ada Veterinary Clinic, and Brady Durham's Fastest Kid in Town. This year, for the first time, every finisher of the kids' dash received a custom finisher medal, a small recognition for some of the biggest hearts on the course.
None of this would happen without our sponsors. Mercy served as the Elite Sponsor of the 2026 Fireball Classic, and their sustained investment in this community event reflects a genuine commitment to the people of Ada. We are also deeply grateful to Ada Veterinary Clinic, Southeast Oklahoma Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, LegalShield, The Clinic, Ada Coca-Cola Bottling Company, District Shirt Shop, Brown's Shoe Fit, Stevie's Captures, Vision Bank, CORE Orthodontics, Ada Smile Place, Halo Hospice, Laundrum ENT, Diamond Plumbing, The Oka' Institute, and many other sponsors. Their generosity made this race what it was. More information on our sponsors will be posted on our Fireball recap page soon! And don't forget to check out our photo album for Fireball 2026!
To our race committee, our water station volunteers, and every Rotarian who gave their time before and on race day, thank you. The Fireball Classic is a community event in the truest sense, and it is better every year because of the people who pour themselves into it. To the runners who pushed through the July heat and the families who made a morning of it, and to the community members who donated without ever lacing up a shoe, Ada, you never disappoint.
The Fireball Classic returns to Wintersmith Park in July 2027. We hope to see you there!