Dream Racer on display at JR Motorsports (Lindsey Marks Photo)
Children’s Dream Racer is an organization founded by Mark “Smitty” Smith, a veteran of the motorsports industry. Smith’s idea for the Dream Racers started when he was given the task of re-designing a McDonald’s to have a NASCAR theme. He created small cars for children to sit in while eating at the restaurant and has transformed that original idea into a treat for children who are enduring medical procedures.
The miniature cars are built using the same materials as NASCAR race cars including 5-point safety harnesses and window nets donated by G-Force Racing Gear. The cars come with a television, a video game system with a steering wheel and pedals, as well as a place for an oxygen tank and an IV pole.
The cars are purchased by individuals or organizations, painted according to the buyer’s specifications and donated to a children’s hospital of the buyer’s choice. NASCAR driver David Reutimann was the first person to purchase one of the Dream Racers.
The band 3 Doors Down recently ordered five of the cars to be donated to children’s hospitals throughout the southern United States. Three of the five cars will have a Dale Earnhardt Jr./3 Doors Down Citizen Soldier paint scheme similar to the car Junior ran in last year’s All-Star Race.
“3 Doors Down wanted that,” Smith said of the design. “Junior and his marketing and licensing people graciously agreed and I think there’s even going to be three cars with this same paint scheme and the other two will vary a bit.”
Dale Jr. has been linked with 3 Doors Down on multiple occasions. He appeared with fellow NASCAR driver Tony Stewart in their music video for “The Road I’m On” and has run multiple 3 Doors Down paint schemes over the past few years.
Yesterday, Smith delivered the first of the five cars to JR Motorsports to be put on display for a little over a week. Then, the Dream Racer will be off to Mobile, Alabama to entertain children at the children’s hospital in the area.
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