Both Chad Crain and his wife, Ashlee, are recovering from injuries sustained after being hit by a four-wheeler. The racing community can help the parents of two young children, Nola and Nash, in a couple of ways.
In addition to racing a modified and a Crown Vic on ovals, Chad also promotes the Race TN Series. The tour features a different kind of motorsport than what he typically competes with — ATVs, dirt bikes and pit bikes. Chad and Ashlee were hurt while officiating an event at the White County fairgrounds in Sparta, Tennessee.
“A four-wheeler lost control in an event for those vehicles,” said Deke Waters, who promotes Golden Mountain Speedway, where Chad competes. “Chad was flagging the event and Ashlee was scoring. Both of them were struck by the four-wheeler. Both had broken tibia and fibula. They had to be airlifted from the fairgrounds.”
Golden Mountain Speedway’s event tonight, Friday, October 10, will raise funds for the Crains who have a long road to recovery.
“We are having a bucket passed throughout the night on Friday,” Waters said. “I knew Chad from growing up with him. My wife, Ashley, went to school with Chad. Their condition is heartreaking, but they are alive and recovering. Both of them had to have rods put in their legs.”
Waters asked that the racing community come together to keep the Crains lifted.
“We want to show them that love, strength, and support is what makes the racing family special,” said Waters. “We are here to help.”
If you can’t make it to Golden Mountain Speedway, you can also help by providing meals for the family through Meal Train. The platform offers opportunities to give gift cards. Its options include DoorDash, Panera, Olive Garden, and Chick-fil-A. Outside of gift cards, you can also volunteer times to give homemade meals.
Mike Adaskaveg has written hundreds of stories since the website’s inception. This year marks his 54th year of covering auto racing. Adaskaveg got his start working for track photographer Lloyd Burnham at Connecticut’s Stafford Motor Speedway in 1970. Since then, he’s been a columnist, writer, and photographer, in racing and in mainstream media, for several outlets, including the Journal Inquirer, Boston Herald, Stock Car Racing, and Speedway Illustrated. Among Adaskaveg’s many awards are the 1992 Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Ace Lane Photographer of the Year and the 2019 National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) George Cunningham Writer of the Year.
