Rolex 24 Winning Driver Has Sights Set on More Than Racing

IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship driver Kyle Masson isn’t just making his mark on the racing world, but outside of it too.

Masson’s love of racing, computers, and video games inspired him to give back to his local community in a big way. In mid-November, the University of Central Florida freshman created a GoFundMe campaign aimed at raising funds to donate two racing simulators to the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando.

“The reason I’m able to do this is because I always used to play video games,” Masson said. “I was in love with computers as a kid, so I’m good at putting together technical stuff.”

Masson’s GoFundMe page has raised nearly $20,000 since its launch almost four months ago. The money will go towards simulator components from well-known manufacturers, as well as iRacing memberships for the kids.

“I know that one of the most beneficial tools in racing is simulators, because they allow you to get lots of practice in when you’re away from the track,” the Windermere, Florida native explained. “I thought it would give the kids something to do in their free time, to practice, and to look forward to.”

Winning the Rolex 24 At Daytona, North America’s most prestigious sports car race held back in January, has certainly helped his cause. With Performance Tech Motorsports, Masson and his three co-drivers, Nic Boulle, James French and Patricio O’Ward, outlasted the competition to take the Prototype Challenge class victory after a grueling twice-around-the-clock contest.

“What I feel the Rolex win benefits us for is outside inspiration and help and support with the project, because before I was just a random racer. Now that I have the Rolex win, it’s allowing a lot of outside help and support. After we won the Rolex was when a lot of the funds starting coming in. I already had the inspiration to do the project, I was fully committed to it, but the win definitely helped get it going.”

With the early success of the campaign, Masson is eager to see how far the project can reach. He has plans to expand the program by working with hospitals around the United States that are also a part of Children’s Miracle Network. Through this, kids from around the country would be able to create teams and compete with children at other hospitals.

Also part of the expansion plans is to reach out and bring in other drivers on the project, as Masson sees the addition of his peers as even more inspiration for the kids.

“We’re very open to expanding it, letting other drivers get involved, committed, and helping out,” Masson said. “I think that’s part of the goal- to get more of the racing community involved in little projects like this that are a big deal to those in need.”

Masson will continue to update the GoFundMe campaign and funding goals as the project expands. To view the current campaign, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/simulators-for-arnoldpalmer-hospital-kids.