Yeazell’s parents and grandparents all called Dayton home, so Yeazell is a true lifelong Daytonian, working for the same company until she retired — Modern Answering Systems. She and her husband shared some similar interests, including dancing, but she admits she never shared his love of NASCAR, at least not while he was living. “I didn’t care for the NASCAR races then and never watched them with him,” she said.
But today, NASCAR is one of her passions. Yeazell has lived long enough to see cars evolve into high-powered racing machines that reach speeds of more than 150 miles per hour and zip around tracks several miles long or more. Today she can watch races multiple times a week on high-definition television screens with her favorite celebrity drivers at the wheel. Times have certainly changed.
Yeazell started watching NASCAR races and got hooked on the excitement and speed and said doing so reminds her of her late husband. “My favorite drivers are Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart,” she said.
At the Widows Home, which is a short-stay rehabilitation and long-term skilled nursing care facility that has been in existence in Dayton since 1872, her love of NASCAR has became rather legendary and residents and staff alike have taken notice. Dan Soder, a former nurse at the home, shared a love of NASCAR with Yeazell and befriended her last year.
According to Judy Kreutzer, recreation coordinator at the Widows Home, Soder always made sure that Yeazell knew when there was a race on TV. “If Dan was working while a race was on, he would stop in Jeanne’s room to turn her TV on to the correct channel,” Kreutzer said. “He knew how much she enjoyed watching the races so when he found out there was a race at the nearby Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he decided to take advantage of that opportunity and take Jeanne to see a race in person.”
Earlier this year, at the age of 86, Yeazell was headed to her first NASCAR race in Indianapolis. Yeazell soon found herself wheeling around the world’s largest spectator sporting facility in her wheelchair, with Sodor helping her see the sights. Once they were seated, someone overheard them talking and before they knew it, famous NASCAR driver Tony Stewart was introducing himself to Yeazell. “I told him he was my favorite driver,” Yeazell said. “I was very excited.”
Yeazell and Sodor were escorted up to the VIP seats to watch the race, which made the day extra special. Once there, they were served special beverages and snacks and treated like special guests for the duration of the day. “I will absolutely come back again!” Yeazell said. “As soon as I can.”
If you ask Yeazell what she likes about the races, she will tell you she loves the speed of the cars and that she has always liked driving fast. In fact, even when she was young, her husband used to say he worried she would get speeding tickets. “But I never did,” Yeazell said. “Maybe a warning or two. But never a ticket!”
Back at the Widows Home, she also enjoys listening to music, because it reminds her of the days when she used to dance with her husband. She also participates in weekly music sessions at the Widows Home and enjoys playing cards and Bingo. Though she can’t physically dance any longer, she still remembers a day when she would take a spin on the dance floor with Bill.
And though her friend Sodor has taken a job elsewhere, he stops in to visit Yeazell from time to time, to talk about their shared love of NASCAR. “I still get to see my friend Dan,” Yeazell said. She agrees she has had a very blessed and adventuresome life.
“And I remember Bill watching the races,” she said. “And now I love to watch them too!
About the Author