News
The Answer to your Question
Lakeland, FL - The question is am I still racing. The answer is "Yes". I am a racer at heart. It's in my soul. I may not be behind the wheel on the racetrack but if you ask me if I still race the answer will be yes. When you've been where I've been, got to do the things I've gotten to do, met the legends I have met and had a taste of the heart of racing you can't just not do it. We are in a time where circumstances will dictate the level that you can participate in this evolving sport. Some of NASCAR's household names are losing sponsors and in turn losing their rides. It's easy to get frustrated when you see drivers on that level be turned away from the sport. I was fortunate to have experienced this sport on a level that few get to. I would be lying if I didn't say I miss it greatly. But I will focus on racing in a sport that I love, on a level I can with my friends, fans and family behind me. If we stopped doing what we loved because we could no longer do it on the level that we wanted to we would all be sitting on the couch Sunday afternoon watching others do. So let me give you an update on what I've been up to.
When I traded my super late model for an open wheel modified I wanted to know the car and every bolt in it. I tore it down to the chassis had it painted and have been reassembling it bolt by bolt. This has been a slow process. But nonetheless still a process.
I have goals to have the car on the track this season. But if anybody has been in the sport long enough they know goals are only met with dollars. The truth is this is an expensive sport and to participate is sacrificial on many levels. I have been reassembling the open wheel modified while also working. As many of us local racers do, we can't just race full-time. There's a lot to be done to my car but I am confident with the experience that I was able to gain over the season I spent in North Carolina that I will be able to be on the track soon.
I am grateful for the support of my fans, friends and family. Many of my past sponsors still offer their support and I am appreciative of all those who have poured into my racing. I am excited for 2018 and look forward to getting back behind the wheel and wheelin' this car on the track. Look for me in the months ahead.
Giving Tuesday is Coming
Kaitlynn and Gianna need our help. Giving Tuesday is coming, but here's your chance to get a jump on donating. We are coming to the close of the 2017 season and our fundraising efforts for the CARS Kids. This is a great opportunity for you to be a part of making a difference in the lives of 2 families this holiday season. Both families have struggled this year with the expenses of the girls' medical care. Between doctors' appointments and the expense of traveling to them, the time taken off work and the loss of income has really been felt by both families.
You have a chance to help lighten that burden with your donations.
Little Gianna is 4 years old and was in a car accident in January where she received severe trauma to the brain and had a halo placed on due to injuries to her neck. We are happy to say that she's had the halo removed and will not have to have neck surgery. With therapy she should have full range of movement one day. She is in pre-K and loving it. She got a chance to go to Disney and see Frozen to celebrate having the halo removed.
Kaitlynn, a 16 year old beautiful young lady from Auburndale who was diagnosed with all three forms of scoliosis, Scheuermann's disease and was also recently diagnosed with a treatable blood cancer. Last December she had surgery to correct her spinal problems. They placed a rod down her spine from the base of her neck to her tailbone. When she came off the operating table she stood three inches taller. She is in physical therapy and dealing with nerve damage from scoliosis. Kaitlynn has had a rough year struggling with complications from the hardware placed in her spine. Her mother feels very confident in her new doctor and she'll be scheduled to have the hardware removed and replaced soon. She has remained in school and in fact will be graduating this spring with numerous college credits.
So as you can see, any help you can offer to these two precious children will help make a difference.
Our foundation is trying to bring a few extra smiles to these families. If you can help us do that, we would greatly appreciate any and everything you can do. Thank you for taking the time to consider helping our kids and families.
For Donations, Contact:
Kim Scheffler at KimScheffler10@yahoo.com or Staci Martin at Staci@DylanMartinRacing.com
https://www.facebook.com/CARSRacinForADream/
Credit cards can be accepted for donations. All donations are tax deductible as CARS is a 501c3 organization.
Summer School Is On The Agenda
Lakeland, FL - Dylan attended summer school on July 6th, lucky for him, he wasn't a student this time. Mrs. O'Neal Wiedenman asked Dylan to be a special guest for her summer school 'reading racers' students. And with a racing theme Dylan wanted his brother (fellow race car driver), Brandon Martin, to join him to visit with the students. It would be the students' last day of summer school and many had achieved enough reading points in the program to have special recognition for their efforts. Dylan and Brandon would be part of their reward for earning enough points. Mrs. O'Neal Wiedenman was one of Dylan's teachers when he attended Blake
Academy in his elementary years. Many of the teachers Dylan had were quite aware of the challenge that he faced with his racing schedule and school. They were very patient with him and his absences, but those didn't come without sacrifice. Dylan would take his school work with him on the road when he traveled to race his quarter-midget race car around the country. Many times Dylan would be out of school on Fridays and Mondays and it left the teachers with a great challenge of how to educate Dylan. When he was in school he was interested in very little except racing. Parent-teacher conferences came with many suggestions from his parents for the teachers to offer him material with racing themes (racing books/stories, racing relevant math problems, etc.). One of Dylan's memories of Mrs. O'Neal Wiedenman was bringing her to tears in her quest to find what would work for Dylan and draw his interest in schoolwork. Years later, she asked him to be a special guest for her reading students. Dylan was truly honored to do it. He's able to share a perspective with the students that many don't get to hear. Not everybody who comes to visit their classrooms were good students.
Dylan's able to share his struggles with the students to provide them encouragement that with perseverance and hard work, you can accomplish the goal of education and graduation. He was not a textbook student and he was blessed to have teachers that strive to fit their lesson plans into something that would work for Dylan. Mrs. O'Neal Wiedenman had this to say about Dylan's visit, "The kids had a great time! Thanks for being an inspiration to them. I'm proud of you!". With the many challenges Dylan threw his teachers' way, they are proud of him and how he is able to share those challenges with students and encourage them to follow their dreams. Brandon and Dylan spent one-on-one time with the students during their lunch and shared stories about their years in the classroom and on the track. The students had some really good and funny questions for the boys. The students got a good laugh from Dylan and Brandon sharing about what they'd do if the other wrecked one. The students had lots of stories about their sibling rivalries. It was a fun time for all. Thank you Mrs. O'Neal Wiedenman.
UPDATE - For the many who are wanting to know Dylan's progress on his Open Wheel Modified.....it's still in the build stage. It's a slow process for sure, but Dylan is determined to get it built. When you're doing it without sponsors, the speed of the build is at a much slower pace. But rest assured he will get it complete. He's anxious to get it on the track and start competing in a class he hasn't tackled before. He'll be looking for businesses who want to partner with him on his new quest. Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to be a part of Dylan Martin Racing.