The Shadow
MARTINSVILLE, Va, (VR) – NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain joined students at Patrick & Henry Community College’s Racing College of Virginia today to emphasize the importance of making safe driving choices as part of the Who’s Your Driver? campaign. The event, held at the college’s state-of-the-art motorsports training facility, highlighted the critical need for young drivers to choose a sober driver and always buckle up.
Chastain, known for his fearless racing style and viral “Hail Melon” move at Martinsville Speedway, connected with students about the parallels between safety in motorsports and everyday driving.
“In NASCAR, we take every precaution to stay safe – helmets, harnesses, and a great team around us,” said Ross Chastain. “But the same level of care needs to happen on the road. You don’t get a second chance in a crash. That’s why I’m proud to be here today encouraging these students to make the right choices: never drive impaired and always wear a seat belt.”
The event was part of the Who’s Your Driver? initiative, led by the Department of Motor Vehicles’ Virginia Highway Safety Office and DRIVE SMART Virginia, which aims to reduce impaired driving and increase seat belt usage, particularly among at-risk young drivers.
“The statistics tell us that far too many Virginians – especially young drivers – are involved in alcohol-related crashes,” said DMV Commissioner Gerald Lackey, the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative. “Our goal with Who’s Your Driver? is to save lives by reinforcing smart decisions behind the wheel, and we’re grateful to have Ross Chastain using his platform to amplify this message.”
With one in three fatal crashes in Virginia involving alcohol, and Virginia’s zero-tolerance law making it illegal for drivers under 21 to have a BAC over 0.02%, the equivalent of one drink, the campaign’s message is especially critical for college students and young drivers.
“Partnering with NASCAR driver Ross Chastain on a designated driver program is a game-changer,” said Kristin Pettway, Executive Director of DRIVE SMART Virginia. “His passion for safety, both on and off the track, inspires fans to make smart choices and look out for one another. Together, we’re driving home the message that planning ahead for a safe ride and buckling up wins every time.”
The Racing College of Virginia, located at Patrick & Henry Community College, has a long history of training students for careers in motorsports. The program’s 94% completion rate and strong ties to NASCAR make it a hub for future racing professionals.
“Our students understand what it takes to be successful in motorsports – hard work, discipline, and making smart choices,” said Dr. Colin Ferguson, Dean of STEM at Patrick & Henry Community College. “Ross Chastain’s visit reinforces that those same principles apply when they’re driving off the track. We’re grateful for this partnership in promoting safety.”
During the event, students got a chance to ask Chastain about his career, his Martinsville win, and how he stays focused on and off the track. The visit also included a tour of the Racing College’s high-performance engine center and hands-on racing facilities, where students build, test, and race their own late model stock cars.
