From Racing to Reading: NASCAR's Erik Jones Gives Back To Schools

When NASCAR driver Erik Jones isn't hitting speeds of 200 mph at Daytona, he's driving something else entirely: childhood literacy. The 28-year-old racing star is making waves in the education world by getting kids excited to reading. So how does he get their minds in gear?

Book vending machines.

Yes, you read that right. These special vending machines provide something more valuable than an early lunch - books that kids can keep forever.

Racing to Read

Jones's journey with literacy advocacy isn't just a charitable whim. The Byron, Michigan native credits his own early reading experiences, particularly Jeff Gordon's autobiography, with helping shape his racing career.

"If you're a good reader and you're into reading, it's a way to learn and get ahead, always," Jones explains, speaking at the recent unveiling of his latest book vending machine at Chisholm Elementary School in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

This installation marks the third book  vending machine in Volusia County schools. It follows previous successful deployments at Blue Lake Elementary in DeLand and Discovery Elementary in Deltona. It's part of a broader initiative by the Erik Jones Foundation, supported by healthcare partner AdventHealth, to tackle one of education's most pressing challenges: getting kids excited about reading in an age of endless digital distractions.

How It Works

Unlike traditional school libraries where books must be returned, these vending machines operate on a different model. Students earn special tokens through academic achievement and positive behavior, which they can then use to select books they get to keep permanently. It's a simple yet powerful concept that transforms reading from an obligation into a reward.

"The vending machine is great because they'll be able to have a book they can keep," explains Christine Baird, Chisholm Elementary's media specialist.

Christine wrote the grant bringing this program to her school. This ownership aspect is particularly crucial for students who might not have access to books at home.

Making an Impact

The impact is already evident in the excited faces of students like fourth-grader Chloe Neigenfind, who proudly displays her "brag tag" necklace decorated with tokens representing books she's not only read but mastered through comprehension quizzes. Her newfound enthusiasm for NASCAR – specifically for Jones – shows how this program creates positive associations with reading.

Principal Melissa Marple notes that while some students are naturally drawn to reading, the vending machine helps engage everyone. "Some kids are natural readers and their drive is to come into the reading center and read the book and when we incentivize, then we're drawing in everybody," she explains.

Beyond the Track

For Jones, this initiative represents something larger than racing or even education – it's about creating opportunities. "There's not always things in your life as you get older that you get to do for you and it's on your time," he reflects, "but reading is always one of those things."

The partnership with AdventHealth adds another dimension to the program. David Weis, regional president of AdventHealth East Florida, sees a direct connection between early literacy and future success in healthcare professions. "All of the team members that work with us, whether they're doctors or nurses or other team members, part of what got them to where they are is being able to have a passion and love for reading," he notes.

Looking Ahead

As the program continues to expand, its impact grows beyond just the numbers of books distributed. It's creating a model for how corporate sponsorship, celebrity involvement, and educational innovation can come together to address fundamental learning challenges.

For the students at Chisholm Elementary and other participating schools, the presence of these book vending machines represents more than just access to free books – it's a statement about the value of reading and its power to open doors to new opportunities.

Jones, who finished 12th place in this weekend's Daytona 500, is already winning where it matters most – in the hearts and minds of young readers who are discovering the joy of reading, one token at a time.

Whether you're an educator interested in bringing book vending machines to your school or a potential corporate sponsor looking to make a difference in education, visit our website to learn more about how you can get involved in this innovative literacy initiative.