July 26, 2002

Brooklyn, Michigan. State, local, and federal law enforcement investigators are teaming up with professional racing company, Conely Racing, Inc. of Brighton, Michigan, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Missing Children’s Racing Network, to generate leads in the disappearance of a thirteen year old Benton Harbor boy. Steven Kraft disappeared February 15, 2001, from his Benton Harbor home after he went out to walk his dogs.

Steven’s case has been featured with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, however, authorities indicate few new leads have been generated since his disappearance.

Conely Racing, sponsored by SBC Ameritech, has decided to duplicate a successful idea implemented by the Missing Children’s Racing Network during the Detroit Trans Am Race in 2001. During that race, the photograph of a missing Cheboygan girl was featured on the hood of a racecar. The girl was later found in Mexico and safely returned home.

Conely Racing, and SBC Ameritech, have joined with the Michigan State Police, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Benton Township Police Department to repeat the same effort during the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Race, Saturday, July 27^th at the Michigan International Speedway.

Featured on the front hood and truck bed cover of the Number 7 Conely Race Truck will be photographic enlargements of Steven. The images are expected to be seen by more than 60,000 race day fans and 2 million ESPN viewers during the nationally televised race.

Authorities are hoping that the national and international television exposure will provide them with new information and leads on the case.

"The entire Conely Race Team is excited about having the opportunity to help the authorities find Steven," said John Conely, president and owner of Conely Racing, Inc. "We want to be as successful in finding Steven as the Missing Children’s Racing Network was in locating Tori Wollangur. I know I speak on behalf of all our professional racing partners and our driver Bryan Reffner, when I say we truly want to make a difference and help these family members."

"Increased public awareness is our best chance of recovering these children," said Martin Gray, director, Missing Children’s Racing Network. "Someone, somewhere, has seen something and will hopefully provide the authorities with information that will bring Steven home."

"When you look at the photograph of Steven you can’t help but feel a compelling need to do whatever is possible to find him," said Detective Thomas Vaught, Benton Township Police Department, the agency that took on the original investigation. "We could never get the national exposure that John Conely and the NASCAR race will be providing us."

The Kraft case has now been turned over to the FBI who will be handling the case. Anyone with information on Steven is being asked to call Special Agent Al DiBrito, FBI St. Joseph office, (616) 982-0390, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 1-800-843-5678, or the nearest Michigan State Police post.

Michigan State Police Sergeant Greg Jones, Prevention Services Section, suggest parents take the following precautions to protect their children:

Take an active role in their children’s lives.

Know where children are at all times.

Know their children’s friends and daily activities.

Teach children to ask permission before going anywhere with anyone.

Have children use the "Buddy System."

Teach children to be suspicious of unknown adults asking for assistance.

Learn to say no when they sense something is wrong.

Develop a code that a child can use during an emergency situation.

Teach children how to dial 911 and how to listen and speak clearly to the operator.

Additional child safety materials are available from the Michigan State Police Prevention Services Section by logging on the Michigan State Police safety web site.

Contact:

Martin Gray, Missing Children’s Racing Network, (734) 466-9205.

Jackie Conely Scheller, Conely Racing, Inc., (586) 747-8774.

Special Agent Al DiBrito, FBI, St. Joseph Office, (616) 982-0390.

Detective Thomas Vaught, Benton Township Police Department, (616) 925-1135.

Sergeant Greg Jones, Michigan State Police, Prevention Services Section, 517/333-4017.

Read more press releases from the Michigan State Police.