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Autism Speaks teams with NASCAR, FedEx, Denny Hamlin and 64 additional drivers, this weekend at Dover International Speedway, to raise awareness for the brain development condition which is a growing concern.
Hamlin will be driving with a blue and white puzzle piece paint scheme on his No. 11 Toyota while the other drivers' racers will sport a puzzle piece decal at the track known as the Monster Mile. All three of the NASCAR top-tier series will be involved including Sunday's “FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks.”
Earlier this year the Autism awareness campaign kicked off with a gala dinner at New York's Metropolitan Museum where the charity raised almost $1.2 million dollars.
Brian Z. France, NASCAR's CEO, and his wife were among community leaders supporting the program.
It meant a lot to Liz Feld, president of the non-profit organization, “to have their participation and support. When people of influence stand up and acknowledge that Autism is a problem -- a challenge that needs national attention.”
The connection of Dover and Autism Speaks began with Artie Kempner, a director for Fox Sports.
Ms. Feld said it was Mr. Kempner who “really made the connection for us. We are now in the seventh year of being a partner of NASCAR's. He introduced the Autism Speaks group to NASCAR. It's been a strong and deep relationship going back seven years.”
Probably the most famous person in the NASCAR garage with an Autism connection is Daytona 500 winner, Jamie McMurray, who drives for Chip Ganassi Racing. McMurray has a niece with the condition. His experience is like many had from years ago.
“When my sister called me and told me my niece was affected by Autism 12 or 13 years ago no one really knew what Autism was. Everyone assumed “Rain Man” was your kid.
Part of what my foundation has done and the golf tournament has done is create awareness to different levels creating awareness is important as anything and different ways of treating.
One in 88 children is now born with some form of the Autism spectrum disorder (AUD). This means from high functioning children to severely impacted ones.
At present there is no cure for the condition. Early diagnosis and special care is needed to make sure each child can reach his or her potential.
The condition is a heavy burden on parents especially if one of them is a regular on the NASCAR circuit.
Trent Owens, a veteran crew chief, who works with young phenom Kyle Larson, has a five-year old son, Gray Owens, with the condition and an 11-year old daughter who does not.
Since Owens is not in the Sprint Cup Series his duties are a little less intense which gives him the opportunity to help his wife with the child care.
“When I'm home, when work is over at 4:30, I go straight home and help,” Owens said. That gives his wife a bit of break. “When she's home alone it's more of a challenge,” he added.
The family is still discovering things about their son as Owens explains his knowledge of the condition.
“The autism spectrum is so broad, there are so many unknowns,” said Owens. “My son, in particular, is not verbal, but, his communication skills from perceptive language are good. We can ask him to do things.”
Since the Owens family found out that Gray had the condition when he was around 18-months old they were able to do research to find appropriate schools and therapies. Only some states offer more care than others. Unsupported special education can be a big financial drag on many families.
Auto racing can be antithetical to those with the condition because of the heightened sensitivity to noise. Gray Owens hadn't been to a race track yet because of that. “I don't know how he'd react,” Trent said.
“On Saturday he'll watch our (Nationwide Series) race. He loves watching; he's a car guy. It's the only thing he wants to play with me. He'd ride to California from North Carolina and he'd smile the whole way.”
Gray may have a way to get closer to the action. For the second year-in-a-row there will be a special sound-proof room for the AUD children and their parents. Because of this Trent may take his son to his first, in-person, NASCAR race.
Hamlin will be driving with a blue and white puzzle piece paint scheme on his No. 11 Toyota while the other drivers' racers will sport a puzzle piece decal at the track known as the Monster Mile. All three of the NASCAR top-tier series will be involved including Sunday's “FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks.”
Earlier this year the Autism awareness campaign kicked off with a gala dinner at New York's Metropolitan Museum where the charity raised almost $1.2 million dollars.
Brian Z. France, NASCAR's CEO, and his wife were among community leaders supporting the program.
It meant a lot to Liz Feld, president of the non-profit organization, “to have their participation and support. When people of influence stand up and acknowledge that Autism is a problem -- a challenge that needs national attention.”
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| Image: NASCAR |
The connection of Dover and Autism Speaks began with Artie Kempner, a director for Fox Sports.
Ms. Feld said it was Mr. Kempner who “really made the connection for us. We are now in the seventh year of being a partner of NASCAR's. He introduced the Autism Speaks group to NASCAR. It's been a strong and deep relationship going back seven years.”
Probably the most famous person in the NASCAR garage with an Autism connection is Daytona 500 winner, Jamie McMurray, who drives for Chip Ganassi Racing. McMurray has a niece with the condition. His experience is like many had from years ago.
“When my sister called me and told me my niece was affected by Autism 12 or 13 years ago no one really knew what Autism was. Everyone assumed “Rain Man” was your kid.
Part of what my foundation has done and the golf tournament has done is create awareness to different levels creating awareness is important as anything and different ways of treating.
One in 88 children is now born with some form of the Autism spectrum disorder (AUD). This means from high functioning children to severely impacted ones.
At present there is no cure for the condition. Early diagnosis and special care is needed to make sure each child can reach his or her potential.
The condition is a heavy burden on parents especially if one of them is a regular on the NASCAR circuit.
Trent Owens, a veteran crew chief, who works with young phenom Kyle Larson, has a five-year old son, Gray Owens, with the condition and an 11-year old daughter who does not.
Since Owens is not in the Sprint Cup Series his duties are a little less intense which gives him the opportunity to help his wife with the child care.
“When I'm home, when work is over at 4:30, I go straight home and help,” Owens said. That gives his wife a bit of break. “When she's home alone it's more of a challenge,” he added.
The family is still discovering things about their son as Owens explains his knowledge of the condition.
“The autism spectrum is so broad, there are so many unknowns,” said Owens. “My son, in particular, is not verbal, but, his communication skills from perceptive language are good. We can ask him to do things.”
Since the Owens family found out that Gray had the condition when he was around 18-months old they were able to do research to find appropriate schools and therapies. Only some states offer more care than others. Unsupported special education can be a big financial drag on many families.
Auto racing can be antithetical to those with the condition because of the heightened sensitivity to noise. Gray Owens hadn't been to a race track yet because of that. “I don't know how he'd react,” Trent said.
“On Saturday he'll watch our (Nationwide Series) race. He loves watching; he's a car guy. It's the only thing he wants to play with me. He'd ride to California from North Carolina and he'd smile the whole way.”
Gray may have a way to get closer to the action. For the second year-in-a-row there will be a special sound-proof room for the AUD children and their parents. Because of this Trent may take his son to his first, in-person, NASCAR race.