Ross Chastain leading a different pack than he’s used to (Photo: Luis Torres | TPF).
LOS ANGELES — All eyes will be on Sunday’s Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. But there’s more than just a race going on, it’s an event. To go a step further, the lives of young children, who are open to explore new things, will leave with a positive impression by having bicycles.
The NASCAR Foundation stepped in and donated a check of $250,000 to fund 50 different schools from the Los Angeles Unified School District with the All Kids Bike program.
A few hours later, Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain spent time with kindergarteners from John Mack Elementary School, 0.8 miles away from the coliseum. In front of a large group of kids, they were cheering once witnessing a set of bikes that were given to the school. Chastain would then spend time with the kids riding on the bikes.
Even making laps around the playground where there was some traffic trying to outpace him.
Chastain said it’s a great way for the foundation to really leave a mark. He used his days as a watermelon farm as an example on wanting to leave a difference towards something bigger than himself.
“I ask our team, ‘How can we help? How can you even start the process?’ If we can just amplify this and support the program in any way. The NASCAR Foundation has been underutilized,” said Chastain. “But moving forward, I want to take the initiative that Justin Marks and Trackhouse that’s done to leave the race markets better than how we found them.
“It’s no different than agriculture. Every farmer wants to leave the land better than how they find it because they’re probably going to farm it again one day or somebody is in the next generation,” Chastain continued.
“You circle it all back and if we can leave the LA area a little better for having a NASCAR race. Yeah, we’re here in the coliseum but there’s elementary kids that we’re going to affect now. Once we’re all gone, the coliseum is back to normal but there’s still going to be bikes 0.8 miles away. That’s what makes coming to LA worth it.”
In an era where people are spending more time on screens, children have been the most impacted. An astonishing 54 percent of children that’s doesn’t know how to ride a bicycle. Something hard to believe indeed, but a difference making program can change the direction of children spending time outside.
All Kids Bike founder Ryan McFarland couldn’t believe the statistic. Couldn’t even comprehend it which inspired him to stop the percentage from further hemorrhaging. This includes 250,000 fewer kids not riding a bike and the best way to solve it is not having an after-school activity but make it a part of the curriculum.
A young kindergartener ironically wearing a watermelon shirt (Photo: Luis Torres | TPF).
“This is something that’s been happening silently for a decade. Three-quarters of American kids won’t ride a bike not even one time this year. I can’t believe that,” said McFarland. “But when you dig in further, the statistic in the United States right now is that kids are spending over seven hours on screens daily.
“Then you dig in a little bit further, obesity and diseases related to it are in record levels. Having a love for motorcycles and bicycles, the answer was getting kids back on bikes, go outside, working hard and engaging in life.”
McFarland added it’s the best way to get kids interested that’s quick and could make physical education matter even more to a child’s health.
“A bicycle provides so much to a child, so I went all in on it,” McFarland commented. “I’m happy to have all the support from everyone.”
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said the nicest thing of learning how to ride a bike is it can make education valuable but also fun.
“It’s something that’s both with your head and something with your body. It’s something in real space as well as conceptual. For any kid here in LA, get off the screen and get on a bike,” said Mayor Garcetti. “Wherever that bike will lead you, whether it’s some beautiful place in the city, we’re adding bike lanes all the time. We’re going to finish a bike lane along the Los Angeles River. You will see your city and you will find your future.”
Putting into words on how being involved with the community, Chastain isn’t sure how the ripple effect will unfold in the future of these kids of JMES. But upon entering his first year with Trackhouse, he was positive that being involved in the community will continue as the season unfolds.
Perhaps one of those kids could fall in love with bike racing where Supercross or Tour de France aspirations run wild.
Chastain lending help on removing the kid’s helmet after a fun bike ride (Photo: Luis Torres | TPF).
When the dust settles, Chastain hopes the sport’s drivers can go the extra mile on helping the community. However, with the road being long, there’s not time to explore the city.
Fortunately, the Busch Light Clash being in the heart of LA, it can be done. It was far from the only thing. Part of Chastain’s motivation on reaching out to the community comes from Justin Marks, whose organization have already done marvelous stuff off the track.
“We go, drop in and leave. There are well established tracks outside of the city. We fly in our own place, race, eat at a restaurant and leave,” said Chastain.
“We never see the true town around the racetrack. It’s impossible not to see this town here. This is the start for me of raising my hands saying, ‘How can I help?’ If me being a NASCAR driver can help programs like this in any way. Then I’m all for it.”
