Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver, Teams Up With Police To Inspire Inner City Youth

After attending a NASCAR race with a friend in 2008, police officer Todd Smith had an exciting idea: to use the sport to connect with and inspire local inner city youth. To implement his plan, Smith founded Kevin's Krew with the help of NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick. Now, the organization brings at-risk youth to NASCAR races, where they get to spend time with Harvick and learn about motorsports.

"Having grown up in South Central L.A., I know what it's like to be disadvantaged," Smith said. "Taking these kids to NASCAR races and seeing their reactions is what keeps me going in the program. I've received tons of letters from kids, without prompting from their parents, thanking me for the trips."

For Harvick, the most exciting aspect of the program is getting to brighten the lives of children that he explains "don't get to experience a lot of the things they probably should" and to introduce them to a sport many of them have never seen before. Harvick hopes the program will open the kids' eyes to new possibilities and keep them motivated to work hard in school.

CNN reports.

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