- December 20, 2024
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Josh Wooten sits in the driver's seat of his new car as his family and the Seawolf Privateers surround the vehicle at Daytona International Speedway. Courtesy photo
Josh Wooten holds up the ceremonial big key from the National Auto Body Council and Geico. Courtesy photo
Dale Ross, the director of the National Auto Body Recycled Rides program, leads the presentation in the garage area at the speedway. Courtesy photo
The Wootens' 2021 refurbished Toyota Corolla in the infield at Daytona International Speedway before the NASCAR Cup race on Aug. 24. Courtesy photo
Josh Wooten of Palm Coast jokes that the reason he and his family were selected to receive a newly refurbished 2021 Toyota Corolla through the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides program is that he checked off two of the boxes — disabled veteran and foster care parent.
In truth, the gift could not have come at a more opportune time. Wooten’s 2004 Camry was nearing 250,000 miles and its engine had started knocking.
“We were going to have to replace it really soon, and we don’t have the money,” Wooten said.
Wooten, his wife Mikaela, and their five children — including an 8-month-old foster child — received the car at Daytona International Speedway before the start of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Aug. 24.
The NABC started the Recycled Rides program in 2007 and since then has donated over 3,300 cars to individuals and families in need of reliable transportation.
Geico donated the vehicle. The Daytona Toyota Certified Collision Center refurbished the car. And the local non-profit Seawolf Privateers nominated the Wootens. The organization raises money to help foster and displaced children.
Josh Wooten said the Seawolf Privateers were making a drop-off at his home and told him about the car that was to be donated at the speedway.
“It was kind of interesting. They said, ‘You should apply for this.’ And less than 24 hours later, we were notified that you are the ones to win the car. So, it was really exciting.”
The only criteria was that the Wootens had to prove they can pay for the insurance.
Dale Ross, the NABC Recycled Rides program director, presented the car to the Wootens in the speedway’s infield Fanzone area. Enterprise Rent-A-Car donated a $600 Visa gift card and the speedway provided free passes for the family to the race.
“The kids had a great time,” Josh said. “All the people were great. We kind of felt special. We walked through pit road, trying to see everything we can see. The whole ride home everyone was joking and laughing. It was really a great experience.”
There was, however, a close call when he got ready to drive the car home.
“The car was in the infield. And they said, don’t take a right or you’ll be on the track. I thought they were joking,” he said.
But he avoided the famed 31-degree high-banked track in the nick of time.
Josh Wooten is a veteran of the U.S. Navy submarine force. While he was on active duty he was diagnosed with early onset osteoarthritis and was given a medical discharge. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that causes the breakdown of tissues in the joints.
The condition worsens over time. Wooten has been out of the Navy for 15 years. He was told at the time that he would have to get his knees replaced. That hasn’t happened yet. But walking has become more difficult, he said.
“If I stand for 20 plus minutes, I’m wiped, I’m useless. If I mow the lawn, the next day I’m not getting out of bed,” he said.
Fortunately, he said, he has a sit-down job. He works from home for Western Governor’s University, an online school, in the re-admissions department, helping students overcome roadblocks to finish their degrees.
Mikaela is a stay-at-home mom who home-schools their four biological children, ages 15, 13, 10 and 9. Josh said he likes to joke that they have two sets of Irish twins.
They have fostered a total of five children. Mikaela’s family fostered children when she was growing up. Josh said he had aunts and uncles who were foster parents, and it was a mixed bag.
“It was really bad or really awesome, so I was hesitant at first,” he said. “But my wife convinced me that these kids need help. I got the impression that if I did foster care I would have more empathy and I would be a better person in general. It’s definitely tough but it’s really rewarding too.”
They’re past experiences with fostering haven’t always worked out the way they wanted, he said. They realized they weren’t equipped to handle some of the situations.
But fostering the baby, he said, has been really good for their kids.
“My daughter, especially, absolutely loves the baby. She’s like a little mom. The older boys are more than happy to help out, even with changing diapers,” he said.
Of course, having reliable transportation is important for the family. The Corolla has about 30,000 miles on it. Josh hopes it will last as long as the Camry did.
“I really hope it lasts another 15 years,” he said. “It’s such a nice car. We definitely feel very blessed.”
