Adaptive Motorsports to Open Texas NASCAR Weekend

The opening event for Texas Motor Speedway’s upcoming four-day NASCAR weekend will feature a NASCAR race car that has been rebuilt with adaptive systems, allowing spinal cord injured and disabled individuals to drive the car.

 

Falci Adaptive Motorsports, founded by Dr. Scott Falci, a renowned Denver-based neurosurgeon, will showcase cutting-edge technology to maximize the impact of bringing mobility to the disabled Thursday, March 28, from 9 a.m. to noon CDT at the 1.5-mile oval.

 

The NASCAR portion of the adaptive motorsports program with Furniture Row Racing support started four years ago. Furniture Row Racing built the race car while Dr. Falci and his team constructed and installed the technological components that allow disabled individuals to drive the car hands-and-foot free by a mere movement of the head and mouth which enables input to the car’s steering, accelerator and braking systems.

 

Military veterans, who have suffered catastrophic loss of limb injuries in war and now train at the Adaptive Training Foundation Gym located in Carrollton, Texas, will participate in the event and get their first opportunity to drive a race car at Texas Motor Speedway. The non-profit Adaptive Training Foundation was founded in September 2014 by former NFLer David Vobora.

 

“After seeing responses from the injured participants who drove the adaptive race car at its first event in Colorado I realized immediately if ever given the opportunity to help these people using the skills I have learned in NASCAR, I would take it,” said Joe Garone, former president of Furniture Row Racing. “That opportunity recently presented itself and thanks to Barney Visser, Spire Motorsports, and a host of others, I am now following what I believe is a calling that was laid square on my heart. Texas will be our first of multiple events this season during a NASCAR weekend.” 

 

Garone added, “I thank Dr. Scott Falci for the opportunity to help create an experience that brings awareness to the need of continued support, and development of new technologies that will provide freedom of mobility to the spinal cord injured and disabled community. We also want to extend a sincere thank you to Eddie Gossage at Texas Motor Speedway for giving us the opportunity to bring our program to one of the premier racing facilities in the country.”

 

Falci, who is the chief neurosurgeon at Craig Hospital in Denver said, “It brings a huge smile to my face just watching the joy of a participant after either driving or riding in the car at a NASCAR track. For me it is inspirational. We’re making progress and adaptive technology can really improve their lives.

 

“When you are spinal cord injured or suffered a loss of limb there are so many things you may not be able to do – walk, feed yourself, make a cell phone call or cook for yourself. So anything that can make their lives easier is extremely helpful. We are grateful to David Vobora and the Adaptive Training Foundation for their support of our upcoming Texas Motor Speedway event.”

 

Eddie Gossage, president of Texas Motor Speedway said, “There is no other way to explain what Dr. Falci and everyone at Falci Adaptive Motorsports has developed other than amazing. We’re honored for this year’s program to kick off at Texas Motor Speedway with a group of local veterans from the Adaptive Training Foundation whose continued courage and determination to achieve and not accept defeat is equally amazing.”