North Georgia teacher says surprise visit by Kyle Busch to her class was a ‘blessing’

Dawsonville in north Georgia is considered the birthplace of stock car racing, so it’s only natural that a young teacher would grow up with a love for fast cars and the speedsters behind the wheel.

Channel 2’s Bryan Mims spoke with a Ashley Smallwood who was surprised alongside her class of fifth graders in February when NASCAR legend Kyle Busch walked in.

“They just went crazy,” Smallwood said of her students. “You always remember your first NASCAR driver that you meet.”

Busch had to pay her classroom at Lanier Elementary School a visit because it is a shrine to NASCAR. Pictures of the room went viral, and Busch’s team arranged for a pit stop.

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“Anybody that would take their time to come down and meet 26 north Georgia fifth graders, he’ll always be my favorite,” Smallwood said.

The NASCAR superstar got the kids all revved up about finding their passion, doing their best.

“I can’t tell you just how much that inspired all 26 of my kids to really chase their dreams,” she said.

The next day, the whole class watched Busch drive to victory at EchoPark Speedway.

“Of course, I’m so sad that he’s gone and it hurts, but it also makes me feel so much more grateful that he came and my students got the blessing of meeting him while he was here,” Smallwood said.