October 6, 2023
Published By mhuff
mhuff
Published:
3 Minute Read
When Benji Bailey bought four $25 tickets in the annual Win Dale Jr.’s Ride drawing, he was of two minds.
In the first, the four tickets represented the opportunity at the grand prize-a 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 Crew Cab pickup truck with the LT Trail Boss package and an 18-foot 2023 Sun Tracker Bass Buggy boat.
The second was far more important.
“I didn’t really expect to win anything, but I considered it $100 well-spent as a donation to an organization that does great work,” he said, shortly after getting the keys to both of the prizes. “Just looking at the Foundation and what they do, especially for kids…my wife is a teacher, I’m a school board member.
“It’s so important for the kids, and you can look at what the Foundation does to help underprivileged youth. It’s amazing what they do. Dale takes his stage to do those things, and just to be able to support such a cause is something worthy and that’s why we do it.”
Benji, his wife Tasha and children Cooper and Cori Brooke were on hand for the exchange, which included a full-on tour of JR Motorsports’ Mooresville complex. Tasha, who teaches mathematics, was amazed at the depth of the engineering and mathematics used every day by race team members.
“It’s unreal,” she said. “I’m so thankful that he bought the tickets to support such a great cause. It’s amazing. I love the truck, it’s phenomenal, and the boat is too. I don’t know what to say. Benji is the racing fan, but we would never have thought to come and tour a place like this. I learned so much on this tour and have such a greater appreciation for what JR Motorsports does.”
Notifying Benji of his good fortune resulted in a light moment for the family, Tasha said. When the phone call came in from the Foundation to break the happy news, she was under the weather and did not take the call. The phone rang three more times with the same result.
Benji, who works as an accountant, returned home and asked if he had gotten a call from JR Motorsports. She told him that yes, indeed he had gotten a call, more than one, and the realization hit. “I might have just won a truck!,” Benji exclaimed.
After confirming that he indeed held the winning ticket, it took a bit for it to sink in. Asked what his first thought was when he got to see the prizes, he thought for a moment. “That it was actually real,” he said. “The whole thing has been hard to believe, to be the winner. The truck is immaculate, it’s great and more than I could dream of and the boat is the same way. We’re just so appreciative of The Dale Jr. Foundation and thankful for it.”
The family, from Celina, Tenn., put the Silverado to work immediately on the drive across North Carolina to their home in Tennessee.
When asked what the first thing they would do when they got their prizes home, Tasha took the lead.
“We’re going to show it off all over town,” she exclaimed with a laugh. The family lives next to a river and it’s a short drive to Dale Hollow Lake, so both vehicles will be right at home.