#NASCAR Better Half Dash #BetterHalfDash

Annual Charlotte Event Raises Money for Charity

Girls, have at it! When racing returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 8th, the ladies of #NASCAR will add their own element of speed, danger and fun to Bank of America 500 Week when they take to the front stretch quarter-mile for the third annual Better Half Dash on Bojangles' Pole Night.

In this race for charity, each participant raised money prior to the event, with the highest-earner winning the opportunity to pick her starting spot for the race.

Select your favorite driver featured below and then click "Donate"  to donate online securely via PayPal.   Help your driver raise the most money so they can select their starting spot for the 2015 #BetterHalfDash fun race!

Ashley Deihl Stremme

Wife of David Stremme

Hometown: Mifflintown, PA

Spotter: Frank Bolter & David Stremme

Sponsor: T.B.A.

Special Supporters: My husband David, my parents Joe & Dianne, as well as my entire family and friends. Also my awesome sponsors who came onboard with me this year. Lastly, but certainly not least, Winged Nation friends and my entire dirt track racing family!

Winning Strategy: Stand on the loud peddle, turn left, don't jump the cushion and bring home that trophy again! ;)

Jenna Robinson

Wife of Clay Robinson

Hometown: Santa Clarita, California

Spotter: Clay Robinson

Sponsors: T.B.A.

Special Thanks: My awesome family and friends for all their support!

Winning Strategy: Take all the advice I get and throw it out the window and go fast and use my front bumper!

Jordan Fish

Girlfriend of Denny Hamlin

Hometown: Fort Mill, SC

Spotter: Denny Hamlin

Sponsors: T.B.A.

Special Supporters: My awesome family and friends for all their support!

Winning Strategy: My other half & best friend, Denny, our beautiful and fun loving daughter Taylor James. His parents, Big Denny and Momma Lou. My dad Dennis, and his wife, Rita. My mom & biggest supporter, Sharon. My sisters and brother-in-laws Linsey & Josh Nealey and Dana & David Richardson. My nieces and nephews: Hannah, Rebekah & Nathan Richardson, and of course my newest and most sweetest nephew, Asher Nealey.

Twitter: missjfish

Facebook: www.facebook.com/xojordanfish

Blog: xojordan.com

Kristen Yeley

Wife of JJ Yeley

Home Town: Charlotte, NC

Sponsors: T.B.A

Special Supporters: My wonderful husband JJ and daughter Faith Anne.

Everyone who had voted and donated for me last year in the dash for the poll! Let's get it this year!

Winning Strategy: Run my lines-not someone else's! That's what kept me in p2 last year.

Twitter: kristenyeley

Shannon Koch

Wife of Blake Koch

Sponsor: Leaf FilterGutter Protection

Bio: My name is Shannon Koch from West Palm Beach, Florida. I have been married to Blake Koch for 5 years and we have 2 little cuties, Carter 3 and Bailey 1. This is my second time competing in the Better Half Dash and I am so excited to race and raise money for such a great organization.

Race Strategy: To win.

Twitter: @ShannonLKoch

Facebook: Shannon Crytzer Koch

Instagram: @ShannyLKoch

Whitney Scott

Wife of Brian Scott

Sponsor: RIMZ One

Race Strategy: Drive it like I stole it!

Bio: Coming Soon!

Twitter: whitneykay_

Instagram: Whitneykayscott

Blog: www.whitneykayscott.wordpress.com

On a personal note - NASCAR Race Mom wishes she were entered in this field of #nascar ladies!

Scarlett Joins Dad in Kentucky #NASCAR XFINITY Victory Lane

On Friday night, Brad Keselowski welcomed daughter Scarlett to the NASCAR world following his win in the NASCAR XFINITY Series Kentucky 300.


Daughter Scarlett made her debut in the arms of mom Paige White, and the moment was a bit much for Keselowski, who earned a Crosley jukebox for his 32nd career XFINITY win which put him clear of NASCAR Hall of Famer Jack Ingram for sole possession of fifth on the all-time list.

A first time winner here @KySpeedway as @keselowski @epaigewhite introduce little Scarlett to Victory Lane. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/6wUjpVgxgL

— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) July 11, 2015

Ella and Leo Gordon - a.k.a. Jeff Gordon's Kids - Gave A Pretty Great Starting Command

It was a memorable moment for Gordon, who drives the No. 24 Chevrolet SS for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

"Highlight for me. The day couldn't be bad after that. That was so, so cool, and they nailed it. I'm just so, so proud of them," said Gordon. "So funny, and Leo, he had to put his little engine rev in there at the end, which I thought just kind of put it over the top. As soon as the red flag came, I went back to the bus and rewound it and watched it with them, and they were just beaming."

#NASCAR Drivers Giving Back Great Job Smoke!

This is one of the reasons NASCAR Race Mom Loves #NASCAR

We received a package from Tony Stewart! It was delivered by a couple of Vincennes Police Officers, DJ Halter, and Ben Hammond. Thank you so much! Nathan loved it.
Posted by Nathan's Courageous Battle on Saturday, 18 April 2015

New Racer in the Kahne Family

Uncle Kasey is busy helping his nephew get ready for his first race earlier this month in North Carolina.

Kasey Kahne finished Eighth for the Great Clips team last weekend at the Texas Motor Speedway.  The team remains fifth in the Sprint Cup Point Standings.

NASCAR Honors Moms with Launch of First Mother’s Day Campaign

Fans Encouraged to Share Photos of the NASCAR Experiences They Had With Mom For a Chance to Win Once-In-A-Lifetime NASCAR-Themed Prizes

Family has always been a pillar of NASCAR®, as the sport was built by the contributions of iconic family names such as France, Petty, Earnhardt and Jarrett. From nurturing young drivers in their aspirations for a career in motorsports, to bringing families together at the track, to celebrating in Victory Lane, moms have served as the bedrock of NASCAR. 

To further celebrate this tradition and spirit, NASCAR today launched “NASCAR with Mom,” a Mother’s Day initiative aimed at sharing and celebrating memorable NASCAR moments with Mom.

Leading up to Mother’s Day Weekend – through the #NASCARwithMOM sweepstakes supported by NASCAR’s Official Partners 3M, Ford and Goodyear – fans are encouraged to share their most memorable NASCAR Mom photos on social media using the hashtag #NASCARwithMOM or by visiting www.NASCAR.com/NASCARwithMOM for the opportunity to win a once-in-a-lifetime NASCAR experience.

The Grand Prize package includes a ride in the Goodyear Blimp and an all-inclusive VIP experience for two during the 2015 Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, including tickets with VIP access. Additionally, five first place prize winners will receive a NASCAR Racing Experience Qualifier for two. Fans can enter to win starting today through May 9 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

“Mothers have made an indelible impact on our sport since the moment it was founded in 1947 – from the legacies of Anne B. France and Lynda Petty to the modern-day accomplishments of others like Teresa and Kelley Earnhardt,” said Kim Brink, NASCAR senior vice president, marketing. “NASCAR with Mom honors the moments and memories fans and families in NASCAR have had with their mothers, and recognizes the critical role moms will play in the future of our sport.”

NASCAR Race Mom in by the garages with NASCAR Driver
Moses Smith - her oldest son.

During Mother’s Day weekend, NASCAR, 3M, Ford and Goodyear will be also surprising moms and their children with unique experiences at the Acceleration Nation Experience at the track leading up to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™, SpongeBob SquarePants 400 race at Kansas Speedway.

Click here to Check out one of my
fondest racing memories with my son

The Gordon Family

Jeff Gordon and his kids (Leo Benjamin and Ella Sofia) walk down the runway at a recent NASCAR Race.

Newman vs. Larson

Could this photo be any cuter!  In January of 2013 NASCAR Rising Star, Kyle Larson shared this photo of  Chase Contender Ryan Newman and himself via twitter.

Last race, NASCAR Veteran Ryan Newman's rough last-chance pass of the Rookie, Kyle Larson, at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday drew plenty of attention and criticism.

"I think if Kyle Larson was in my shoes, he'd have done the exact same thing," Newman said afterward. "I didn't take him out. He still finished the race ... but I think in a day or two he'll understand, if he doesn't now. It's hard to rationalize that, but like I said, I did what I had to do and tried to keep it as clean as I possibly could. I don't like racing that way, but there's a lot on the line here, and we'll keep digging."

What did the young rookie think about all the drama?

"Coming to the finish, there were a lot of cars racing really hard. I knew the 3(Newman) was right around me, and knew he needed to gain some spots to keep from getting eliminated from the Chase. "It's a little upsetting he pushed me up to the wall, but I completely understand the situation he was in, and can't fault him for being aggressive there. I think a lot of drivers out here would have done something similar if they were in that position."

Somehow the photo above describes this situation perfectly without any word.

Remembering Jason and Charlie (#nascar)

As NASCAR Race Mom reviewed the Kansas Notes and Facts, fond memories of Jason Leffler sprung into her mind. You see, Jason Leffler won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Kansas Speedway in 2001 with a speed of 176.499 mph.

Has more than a year really passed since Leffler, affectionately known as "lefTurn," died after a crashing a sprint car on a dirt track in New Jersey?

Jason Leffler was only thirty-seven when he died on June 12, 2013 in a crash at Bridgeport Speedway, a five-eighths mile high-banked dirt track in Swedesboro, N.J.

A native of Long Beach, California, Leffler made 423 starts in NASCAR's three national series; and won two Nationwide races and one Truck Series event in a career that began in 1999. 

Jason Leffler left behind his young son, Charlie. In September of 2013 more than $62,000 had been raised for the Charlie Dean Leffler Educational Fund Grant.

Charlie Dean Leffler Education Fund

USAC Benevolent Foundation c/o Josh Laycock
7177 Golden Oak, Brownsburg, IN 46112.
joshlaycock@gmail.com

317-796-3289

Last Day to #Win Jeff Gordon's 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. (#nascar)

Today is the last chance to get your ticket for the opportunity to win Jeff Gordon's personal 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. He will personally hand over the keys to the winner and all federal taxes for the Corvette will be paid as well. 

Proceeds will benefit pediatric cancer research and access to treatment. 

Click Here to purchase your ticket.

NASCAR Race Mom has already purchased her chance to win this awesome ride and more importantly the chance to meet the winner of yesterday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at the Monster Mile.  Maybe NRM will indulge in just one more ticket!  After all, the California Sunshine is perfect for a classy convertible.

 

Remember today is the last day!  

The Corvette raffle is prohibited to residents
outside the U.S. as well as residents of AR,KS,HI,SC,UT

Cole Custer #NASCAR Record Breaker

Gilly makes a construction-paper race car with his friend Amaya.

David signs an autograph
for a child at the hospital.

David Gilliland and David Ragan's brought smiles to kids' faces during Chicago race week. Gilliland visited Lurie Children's Hospital with Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores, and Ragan visited Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago (formerly Children's Memorial Hospital) in Chicago, Illinois is a pediatric specialty hospital. Located in the downtown Streeterville neighborhood, the hospital has 1,100 physicians on its medical staff and 4,000 employees. Lurie Children’s offers 70 pediatric sub-specialties and has physicians at 14 other city and suburban locations.

Shriners Hospitals for Children is changing lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education. Their twenty-two facilities, located in the United States, Canada and Mexico, provide advanced care for children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate.

David Gilliland drives the No. 38 Ford and David Ragan drives the No. 34 Ford for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Front Row Motorsports team.

Qualifying was canceled at Chicagoland Speedway because of rain. The field will be set according to first practice speeds. David Gilliland will start 30th, and David Ragan's Official Page 39th.

Matt Kenseth Creates Education-Based Children’s Book Series

Matt Kenseth’s Race Against Bullying Children’s Book Debuts at Dollar General on National Youth Literacy Day

On National Youth Literacy Day, Matt Kenseth debuted Matt Kenseth’s Race Against Bullying, his first children’s book aimed at educating and empowering children to make good choices if faced with bullying situations. Kenseth, a two-time Daytona 500 Champion and the NASCAR Sprint Cup series driver of the No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry, released the book with his wife Katie at Joe Gibbs Racing headquarters.

Published by Bendon, Inc., Matt Kenseth’s Race Against Bullying is available today for purchase exclusively at more than 11,500 Dollar General stores nationwide and online at www.dollargeneral.com. It is also the first installment of a four-part series of educational children’s books that Matt and Katie Kenseth championed. The series is designed for family reading for children ages 4 through 8 to become more self-confident and empowered to make good choices.

“As a parent of three small children, it’s natural to worry about the issues they will face while growing up,” said Kenseth, the 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion. “Both Katie and I believe that openly talking about these issues is the best way to prepare them. This book is designed to help families discuss the effects of bullying with their kids. We believe it’s important our kids not only know how to deal with a bully, but also understand that it’s not OK to act like one.”

“We’re excited to partner with Matt to raise awareness and provide solutions to childhood bullying, especially as it reflects our mission of Serving Others,” said Rick Dreiling, Dollar General’s chairman and CEO. “The project also combines Dollar General’s passion for literacy and reading through the Dollar General Literacy Foundation with the strong representation Matt brings to Dollar General, Joe Gibbs Racing and NASCAR.”

According to www.stopbullying.gov, more than 70 percent of students say they have seen bullying in their schools and less than 30 percent of students who are bullied notify an adult. More statistics, further reading about bullying, and ways that adults can help can be found at the stopbullying.gov website.

Kenseth, an avid reader, has helped support literacy programs throughout his career and currently serves as an ambassador for the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. Sharing in both Dollar General and Kenseth’s commitment to literacy is long-time Kenseth sponsor CITIZEN Watch, who made a $25,000 donation on Kenseth’s behalf to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation in honor of the book launch.

“Our new brand statement Better Starts Now is about reaching inside yourself to do things better. With the launch of his new book, Matt has shown us that this motto is part of his character both on and off the track," said Jeffrey Cohen, President of Citizen Watch Company of America. "With statistics showing bullying and harassment becoming an even bigger social problem, a book like this is just what is needed to help start the conversation earlier between parents and children. Citizen Watch Company has supported higher education for the past two years as a corporate sponsor of the National Merit Scholarship Foundation and we are proud to expand our educational support with a donation to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation in honor of Matt Kenseth.”

Matt Kenseth’s Race Against Bullying is a 22-page, 10 x 10-inch, soft-cover book, retailing for $3 at more than 11,300 Dollar General stores nationwide and online at www.dollargeneral.com.

Written by Gina Gold, illustrated by Adam Devaney and produced by Judy O Productions, Inc., Matt Kenseth’s Race Against Bullying was created by Matt and Katie Kenseth and is published by Bendon, Inc.

About Dollar Genera

Dollar General Corporation (NYSE: DG) has been delivering value to shoppers for 75 years. Dollar General helps shoppers Save time. Save money. Every day!® by offering products that are frequently used and replenished, such as food, snacks, health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, basic apparel, house wares and seasonal items at low everyday prices in convenient neighborhood locations. With more than 11,500 stores in 40 states, Dollar General has more retail locations than any retailer in America. In addition to high quality private brands, Dollar General sells products from America’s most-trusted manufacturers such as Clorox, Energizer, Procter & Gamble, Hanes, Coca-Cola, Mars, Unilever, Nestle, Kimberly-Clark, Kellogg’s, General Mills, and PepsiCo. For more information on Dollar General, please visit www.dollargeneral.com.

About the Dollar General Literacy Foundation

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation was established in 1993 in honor of Dollar General’s co-founder, J.L. Turner, who was functionally illiterate with only a third grade education. He was a farmer’s son who dropped out of school when his father was killed in an accident. With determination and hard work, he began what has now become a successful company. We understand sometimes life circumstances prevent individuals from learning to read or graduating from high school, but it’s never too late to learn. Through funding initiatives, we are committed to helping individuals of all ages learn to read, prepare for their high school equivalency or learn English. To learn more about the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, please visit www.dgliteracy.org.

About CITIZEN Watch

CITIZEN holds the leading position in the mid-priced watch market in the United States, setting itself apart from its competitors with its ecologically friendly Eco-Drive technology. Utilizing the power of light, Citizen Eco-Drive technology converts light into stored energy to power a watch for at least six months, even in the dark. Powered by light. Any light. A watch that never needs a battery.

#NASCAR Kids Play Together On The Grass

The Harvicks and Kenseths families spend time together before driver intros before the "Great Clips 300 to benefit Feed The Children" Nationwide Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Harvick night was a smashing success, leading the final 159 laps to beat Joey Logano and win an unusually wreck-free NASCAR Nationwide Series race.  Harvick, who will start from the pole Sunday night in the NASCAR Sprint Cup race, took the lead on the 37th lap and ruled the 1.54-mile tri-oval for his third win of the season in 11 races.

 "Obviously, the car was flawless from start to finish," Harvick reported 

Matt Kenseth was quickest during happy hour for the Great Clips 300 with a speed of 177.738mph.  He qualified sixth and finished the race in eleventh - one lap down.

Chase Starts In Chicagoland!

For the fourth consecutive year, the Chase Starts In Chicagoland!

The first race in the 2014 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup begins with the MyAFibStory.com 400 on Sunday, September 14, 2014! This race at the Chicagoland Speedway is very Kid Friendly. 

 

Last year's race winner, Matt Kenseth, looks to defend his 2013 win and gain his second trip to Gatorade Victory Lane at Chicagoland Speedway. Who will win this year? Experience all of the action for yourself live and in person!

Happy Birthday Dale Earnhardt Sr.

Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. (April 29, 1951 – February 18, 2001) was an American race car driver and team owner, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR. Earnhardt began his career in 1975 when he drove in the 1975 World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway as part of the Winston Cup Series (later the Sprint Cup Series).

Earnhardt won a total of 76 races over the course of his career, including one Daytona 500 victory in 1998. He earned seven NASCAR Winston Cup Championships and his aggressive driving style earned him the nickname "The Intimidator."

He also carried the title of “Dad.”

In 1995, Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s hero card featured his three children Kerry (then 25), Kelly (then 22), and Ralph Dale Jr. (then 20). The Earnhardt children are the third generation of racers and were just beginning their racing career. Like their father, Dale Sr. and their grandfather, Ralph racing was in their blood.

Today would have been Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. sixty-third birthday. Happy Birthday to "The Intimidator."

Re-Visiting #NASCAR’s Once Upon A Time!

A young Jeff Gordon with an even younger Trevor Bayne.
(Courtesy of the Bayne family - FOXSports.com)

Bayne (born February 19, 1991), a #NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series race car driver has always looked up to the four-time Sprint Cup champion, Jeff Gordon, who has also won the Daytona 500 three times.

One can only imagine Trevor Bayne’s emotions when he worked the draft with Gordon in his debut series of races at the Daytona International Speedway. Bayne is best known for winning the 2011 Daytona 500, and is the youngest driver to win the race at the age of 20 years and 1 day.

Take time to view this video of that Fairy Tale NASCAR-Feel-Good Ending!

What - Are you kidding me!

Trevor Bayne, making just his second career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start (first at the Daytona 500), wins the 2011 Daytona 500. It is his first and to date only, NASCAR win.

Kawsniewski Has A Lot to Smile About

Dylan Kawsniewski was signed to a development contract with Chip Ganassi Racing over the weekend.

Ganassi has cars driven by Kyle Larson and Jamie McMurray, and the deal means that the 18-year-old Kawsniewski will be groomed to be the third Sprint Cup Series driver for the team.

Kawsniewski said he's grateful that he has this opportunity.

"It's my best opportunity to get to the top," said Kawsniewski. "I have to learn. I have to prove myself. I'm not just going to get a free ticket up to the top. I have to go out there and perform."

Ganassi said he knows he's taking a bit of a gamble on such a young driver.

"When you look at all his variables, you say, 'He has the least amount of question marks,'" Ganassi said. "We're first and foremost a race team, and it's important we run at the front."

Dale Jr. Learns a Lesson From 1994 Crew Chief

Dale Earnhardt Jr. – Driver of the NASCAR #88

Dale Earnhardt Jr. met with members of the media at Daytona International Speedway. He reminisced about his 1994 – 1995 crew chief when he was twenty-years-old.

Question: You said you were happy for Steve. As much as you were, with the momentum that you guys were apparently coming into the season with, was it tough just to think, oh, man, why now?

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Not really. I had a lesson back when I raced late models, I was working with Gary Hargett, and Gary Hargett and I worked together in '94, '95, and he became kind of like a grandfather to me, really, really, really close relationship. I spent a lot of time with him throughout the week and throughout the weekend, and when we went to the racetrack we went together. It was just a great relationship.

And there was a day where I had an opportunity to move my cars from his shop in Union County up to my shop to be able to work on them. It was an hour drive. And at that time I was working at the dealership in Newton, and then I would drive to Gary's at the South Carolina line and work on my car on Wednesday nights and then I'd drive back down on Fridays and go racing at Florence and Myrtle Beach on Friday and Saturdays, and it was a lot of driving around.

My father said, all right, we're going to bring your cars up here and I'll give you some space to work on them and you can keep them up here and learn how to build these cars and fix them, and I was just missing out on that experience being able to work on my own cars and understand them.

But I had to take it away from Gary, and I wanted him to come up to the shop and work, and he didn't want to drive an hour up there to work, so he decided he wasn't going to do that, so he had to split up. I was taking the cars and moving the cars up to Mooresville because that was what was good for me and my career, but I was going to have to do it without Gary.

And that was a real, real difficult choice to make. That was just a lesson I learned early, that things in the sport, no matter how great they are and how much you enjoy them, aren't always going to stay the same. This is just another situation where that's come true.

NASCAR Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. - Testing at Daytona

Jeff Gordon Drives Out Whooping Cough

Famed NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon is pursuing a different sort of goal in his off-season – raising awareness about whooping cough.

Gordon, who has two children ages 3 and 6, said staying healthy is a big priority for his entire family.

“With kids it’s just germs everywhere, we’re kind of germ-freaks you know taking shoes off when we walk in the door, washing hands, probably overdoing it and you know, covering your mouth when you cough,” Gordon told FoxNews.com.

However, Gordon said it wasn’t until he joined the Sounds of Pertussis campaign, a national education program from March of Dimes and Sanofi Pasteur, that he realized he might unintentionally be putting his children at risk for pertussis, or whooping cough – a highly contagious and often serious disease.

“That’s what got me interested in becoming involved, is because as a parent I didn’t know that I was putting them at risk because I needed the adult booster,” Gordon said. “…Everybody (says), ‘Oh I’ve heard of whooping cough,’ but…they don’t realize that you have to prevent it from continuing to spread.”

One of the goals of this year’s Sounds of Pertussis campaign is to educate adults on the importance of getting an adult tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination. While most infants receive the vaccine at around 2 months old, the effects wear off after five to 10 years.

Without a booster, parents run the risk of contracting the disease and passing it to un-vaccinated infants – for whom it can be deadly.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States is experiencing one of the largest outbreaks of pertussis in approximately 50 years, with more than 41,000 cases and 18 deaths reported in 2012.

“Eighty percent of the time…these young infants are getting it from family members so it’s really about preventative (efforts),” Gordon said. “Prior to the baby being born, family members, when they come to the hospital, when they come to the home to visit, you know they need to make sure they’re protected.”

Gordon said seeing a video of a child with whooping cough on the Sounds of Pertussis website made him even more determined to spread awareness of the disease – and the importance of the adult vaccine.

“(The vaccine) is quick and over in a hurry and then the benefits are fantastic, and especially if you click on the video and hear that young baby with that whooping cough you’ll never forget that and you’ll realize, I cannot allow myself to bring this into our family,” Gordon said.

Gordon said he feels lucky that his children have been healthy – and that in addition to getting the Tdap vaccine, he and his wife make sure their children eat healthy and nutritiously at home.

“Our kids are great about eating vegetables and fish and we don’t go to fast food restaurants, we really try to eat healthy,” Gordon said. “We make the meals a family event where every night we’re sitting at the table, eating together, talking.”

While Gordon said it’s been tougher to stay in racing shape since he became a father, his children are also a big motivating factor for him.

“It’s definitely more challenging because you don’t have as much time, but at the same time they keep me very active and running around, so I look at it now as, how I set an example for them?” Gordon said.

For more information on whooping cough, visit SoundsofPertussis.com.