Kempner wishes that Savage shared their sensitivity, but at least he knows that NASCAR has his back. Unfortunately, the garage has become educated at quite a price.
“The sad reality is, since my daughter was diagnosed, a lot of other drivers, media members, team owners, mechanics, crew chiefs, NASCAR officials, it seems like more and more people are now directly involved with autism because somebody in their family has been diagnosed,” Sadler says.
The toll includes the niece of Sprint Cup driver Jamie McMurray, whose foundation raises money for autism research. Jericho’s Donny Lia now runs an Autism Speaks logo on his Craftsman Truck Series ride, spurred by his car chief when he ran on the Whelen Modified Tour who has a son with the affliction.
Kempner knows that the racing community is clued in. But he is concerned that a guy like Savage, who lauds a Ph.D., is taken seriously by others.
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