NASCAR Driver reads to Elmira kids ahead of WGI weekend

ELMIRA, N.Y. ( WETM ) – While most of the action this weekend is happening about 23 miles away at Watkins Glen International, NASCAR Driver Alex Bowman read to students at Coburn Elementary in Elmira ahead of August 15th’s big race.

Bowman read Ally Financial’s “Adventures with Money: Emma and the Cosmo Phone,” which teaches kids about saving money.

“It’s been really cool teaming up with Ally to teach kids about financial literacy. Obviously, it’s probably something that gets overlooked a little bit. So, being able to kind of jump start some kids learning about it and make it fun, right? Play games and all that has been really cool,” said NASCAR Driver Alex Bowman.

The third graders also played a Jeopardy-style game using the knowledge they learned from the book. For Mia Palmieri, her favorite part of the assembly was the game. She also thinks Bowman will win on August 15.

Bowman spoke to me about his recent struggles at the Watkins Glen International and what a win would mean to him.

“It hasn’t been a good place for me. Obviously, over the past couple of years, we’ve definitely struggled at Watkins Glen more than I would like. But I’ve worked super hard over the past month. I’ve gotten really good at all of the other road courses and Watkins Glen has always kind of been the one that escapes me a little bit. So, hopefully to be able to overcome that would be really really cool and I feel like, you know, we’ve really put a lot of effort into it and hopefully we can finally check that box this weekend,” said Bowman.

The students that attended the assembly also received a signed copy of “Adventures with Money: Emma and the Cosmo Phone” in addition to those financial tips.

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