Front Row Motorsports, J.J. Yeley, and Vampt Beverage Corp. will make a former U.S. Marine’s dream come true this Veterans Day when the No. 38 Vampt Ford Fusion hits Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway in a paint scheme designed by the disabled veteran.
Scott Bates of Muskogee, Okla., is the artist behind the patriotic paint scheme on the No. 38 Ford. The former Marine took up graphic design when multiple sclerosis left him confined to a wheelchair and unable to use his arms. A head-controlled mouse allows him to operate the program in which he creates his designs. A sensor atop his computer screen picks up his head movements, allowing him to choose colors, shapes, shades and strokes.
“God took away one of my abilities to show me a new way,” Bates said about learning graphic design. “I never would have taken the time to learn what I’ve learned if I hadn’t been sitting in this chair and had to retrain myself to do something to occupy my time. I couldn’t bear just sitting and watching TV or surfing the Internet. I wanted to do something.”
After years of designing racecar templates for video games, Bates finally got to see one of his designs on a real racecar when he did a paint scheme for an ARCA car. But that car wrecked in practice and never made it to race day.
The 48-year-old artist still had one wish: to see one of his designs on an actual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car. He told his story to motorsports writer Becca Gladden, who wrote about his dream. When malt beverage maker and Front Row sponsor Vampt read about Bates, they found it only fitting to help him realize his dream on Veterans Day weekend when the company was sponsoring Yeley’s No. 38 in Phoenix.
“When we heard about Scott, we knew we had to have him do our paint scheme,” said Ian Toews, Vampt founder and chairman. “And not only are we recognizing him for his military service, but the design itself is a patriotic one that pays tribute to all veterans. We will all be very proud to stand beside it on Sunday.”
Bates will attend the race as a special guest of Vampt and Front Row Motorsports to see, up close and in person, that his wish was finally granted.
“For Scott, I know it’s a dream come true,” said Yeley, who is a Phoenix native. “It was his wish to get a design on a Sprint Cup car, and to be able to have him do this at my hometown track, it’s really special. He’s going to come in with his family and it’s going to be a huge weekend.”
“Other than my son being born, this will be one of the biggest highlights of my life,” said Bates. “I don’t think I can describe how it will feel. My family is teasing me about when I get to Phoenix, am I going to be able to function without stretching out of my chair because I’ll be so excited. It’s just a dream come true.”
Bates is active on Twitter (@ernhrtfan) and looks forward to recapping his big weekend for his followers and also possibly gaining some new ones.
FRM PR
