When NASCAR fan Jeff heard about the Speediatrics Fun Day Festival, he knew it was something he had to include in his family’s race weekend plans at Chicagoland Speedway. When registering his girls, Addison and Lily for the event, he was looking for fun things to do at the track, wanting to share his passion for NASCAR with them.
When the family arrived at the Fun Day Festival, they found NASCAR-themed activities and some exciting, unexpected guests. The event featured the Goodyear Tire Race, Pinewood Derby, Jump Rope Challenge, and Sponge Relay, but joining in on the fun were NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers, Austin Cindric and Joey Gase. During the Q&A portion of the event, the drivers even took time to give some helpful tips on how they prepare to do their best on the track.
Addison and Lily enjoyed the various activities at the Fun Day Festival, but the event also brought a couple of firsts for the girls.
“I realized it was the first time that someone actually taught them how to jump rope,” Jeff said, “We just don’t do that anymore, and I realized that I had never shown them.”
After participating in all the activities and getting their NASCAR Foundation Fit Kits including a jump rope of their very own, the three took the track. Receiving complimentary tickets for attending the event, Jeff was able to take his daughters to watch qualifying. It was the first time that either of his young girls had been inside Chicagoland Speedway.
“We were able to watch some of the practice,” Jeff said, “Being able to take them inside and see racing for the first time, they were very excited about that.”
After attending the Fun Day Festival and taking in some action on the track, the girls returned home. Along with their Fit Kits and Pinewood Derby cars, Jeff says that his daughters were able to pick up some helpful lessons on how to stay active and healthy, something he says is lacking today.
“Even birthday parties aren’t promoting those lessons,” Jeff said, “They really enjoyed it, and I was happy that this got them outside and moving.”
