Garrett Marchant: No Ordinary Kid

If you don’t know the name Garrett Marchant, you will in the next few years. I ‘met’ Garrett a few months ago on twitter through some mutual followers. He was trying to get a lot of followers and I was told to follow him, so I did. Little did I know, I found a good friend in this kid. I even sometimes call him Mr. Garrett, which peeves him a little. Maybe that’s why he like to call me ‘sir’. Great sense of humor, even though he likes to pick on us girls sometimes. At 13, almost 14, Garrett has been racing at tracks around his home in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, which I realized isn’t that far from my old home in Chesapeake, Virginia where I spent a week this past June. Garrett isn’t your typical teenage racer. Though he does race, he races for a cause. Along with his best friend, 9-year-old go-cart racer Ricky Springer, Garrett races to help APFED, or American Partnership For Eosinophillic Disorders. Like I said, he’s no ordinary racer. Garrett has even gotten a few, I guess you can call them famous, drivers to help in Racing For A Cause. Garrett has been doing what my middle school has been doing for CP or Cerebral Palsy, raising money. I can honestly say that I have donated and will probably continue to donate to his cause.

You don’t usually find kids like Garrett. Garrett hosts his own radio show on the internet called “For The Win.” on blogtalkradio.com. He has guests like Camping World Truck Series drivers Max Papis and Justin Lofton, Ross Kenseth, son of NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Matt Kenseth, and Nationwide Series driver Jeremy Clements. Last week Garrett asked if I wanted to ask him a few questions for my blog, which I delight accepted.

What got you into racing?

" Well my dad has raced for about 20 years now so I was at lots of racetracks going up and a few years ago I really decided that hey this is what I want to do."

What is your favorite thing about it?

" My favorite thing is the competition in no other sports series is there as much competition, I also love the speed factor."

What is your least favorite thing about it?

" The amount of sponsor dollars haha, but as far as things on track I hate how you can win a race one week and when you show up at the track you basically just can't even stay out of your own way."

When did you start racing?

" I started racing this year (2010) and I have been very pleased with my results so far and can't thank my team, sponsors, and fans enough for their support!"

I know you are an Elliott Sadler fan, what made you pick him as your favorite driver?

" Well Elliott is local, he lives 10 minute from my house, plus he was the first driver I met and also what really made me a Sadler fan he sent me a signed T-shirt to me without anyone asking him.

What is Racing For A Cause and how did it come into your racing? "Racing For A Cause was started by 9 year old Ricky Springer a few years ago who has the disease, It benefits APFED ( American Partnership For Eosinophillic Disorders). The deal came about pretty simply really I saw the cause and contacted Mrs. Julie Springer and I asked can I carry your logo and that was how it started."

When you are not racing, what are you doing?

" Working on racecars really race season never stops, but I enjoy hanging out with my friends and family since I don't get to spend much time with them during race season and I am at church basically every night so those are things I enjoy."

What do you hope to accomplish in the future with your racing and Racing For A Cause?

" I hope obviously in the first one to make it to NASCAR everybody says that but honestly that is the ultimate goal. To answer your second question I hope to have them on the hood of a car I drive in NASCAR one day and I also would like to educate everyone on Eosinophillic disorders because most people so not know about it.

Who are your Racing For A Cause teammates?

"Ricky Springer ( Founder of RFAC and Kart Driver) Jeremy Clements (NNS) Mike Senica (ARCA) Grant Enfinger (ARCA) Larry Spencer (Enduro) Trevor Ahouse ( FWD Division) and Bronson Butcher (Karts and Legends)

The off-season is here for you and NASCAR, what are you going to do?

" Work on racecars, work out, look for sponsors that type of thing, racing may stop for the fans but

it never stops race teams in the off season."

How do you prepare for a race?

"I like to work out , get lots of rest, eat good foods and that type of thing during the week to get me ready to race."

Any pre-race rituals?

" Yes, the only Pre Race Ritual I have is to pray with my race team before every one of my races but that is my only Pre Race Ritual."

What is your mentality going into next year?

"My mentality is: I'm racing at Orange County and South Boston they are two of the toughest race tracks their are ( I'm running full time at Orange County for points) So If I can get a top 5 in points and ROTY I will feel like I have really done something, I 'd love to win a race but we will see what happens."

Anything else you want people to know about you?

" Not really besides that I am very religious I make sure I am at church every chance I get, and I would also like everyone to know I am very thankful for my fans and family and appreciate every one's support so much it really motivates me to make it to NASCAR."

Like I said, Garrett Marchant is no ordinary kid. Every kid has a dream, and Garrett’s is to make it to NASCAR top level. What sets Garrett apart from other kids his age, Garrett is actually trying to do something about it. I am proud to know Garrett. He’s trying to make a difference here.

If you want to help Racing For A Cause, please contact him at

www.twitter.com/GarrettMarchant or on his Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Garrett-Marchant/319657193853. You can contact me at either www.twitter.com/SamRaeBayne or my e-mail samyoung13@hotmail.com

if you can not reach Garrett. Please help. Kids like Ricky need it.