NASCAR Driver Kenny Wallace Visits Beasley Elementary

For anyone who knows NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace as an on-air personality, they know that most of the time he is heard before he is seen. Wallace’s larger than life voice came into Beasley Elementary this week, as he returned to his former elementary school to host the Missouri Assessment Program’s kickoff assembly. 

The school's third through fifth graders will take the MAP test next week, and first and second graders also participated in the assembly, which was themed "Driving to Success." According to dese.mo.gov, MAP are augmented tests that are delivered annually each spring in communication arts and mathematics for grades 3-8, and science for grades 5 and 8.

Wallace began the assembly onstage in his full fire suit and helmet. He quickly got down to business and explained 10 steps to good test taking, comparing those tips to race car driving.

1. Be prepared. Wallace held up his notes for the assembly and said that just as the students should be prepared for MAP testing, he was prepared for the assembly.

2. Have good attendance. "I have to go to every race track," Wallace said. "My car owners are here today. I have bosses. Did you know I have bosses? They expect good attendance from me. Those two are just like my principals. No matter how old you get, if you don't come to the track, you miss the race, or in your case, your friends might go on to the next grade without you."

3. Get a good night's sleep. "If I don't go to sleep at night when I have a big race, I'm not strong and alert," Wallace said. "I know Albert Pujols, who hits all those home runs for the St. Louis Cardinals, gets a good night's sleep."

4. Eat healthy. Wallace had the crowd yell out what good foods to eat and taught them what the word nutrition meant.

5. Stay focused. "Focusing is paying attention to your work and not looking at other friends," he said. "As a race car driver I focus on the race track in front of me."

6. Follow directions carefully. Wallace asked the audience what that meant and a first grader said that it was listening to your teacher or reading what the paper says. "If my car owner says, 'Kenny, pit the next lap' I do what he tells me to do and I pit," Wallace said. 

7. Raise your hand if you have a question. "You don't get picked all the time," Wallace said. "That's life. Your teacher cares about you, they love you, so raise your hand politely."

8. Be respectful to others who are testing. The first and second graders were there to cheer on the third though fifth graders who are testing next week. Wallace used this portion of the assembly as a mini pep rally for the Beasley Jaguars, telling the group that they are all a team, all members of a family who are brothers and sisters. Everyone gave each other a round of applause.

9. Check your work, take your time and don't rush through. "When I was your age, I was doing the test and someone got up and handed their paper in before me. I was thinking I was wrong and I was trying to compete," Wallace said. "It's not a race. We don't get mad and we don't compete." Wallace compared test taking to the Tortoise and the Hare fable, saying that one may take 5 minutes longer, but could get more answers right. 

10. Think through your answers. "If my car owner says to me, 'Kenny, go as fast as you can wide open' I will think about it before to make sure I can do that," Wallace said. 

Wallace concluded the assembly with a short question and answer period, and as a special treat to the students, he brought his dirt track race car outside for the kids to see. He told the kids that he loves them very much and that he flew back to his old elementary school to cheer both them and the St. Louis Cardinals on for opening day.