Oklahoma Race Car Driver Honors Moore Cross Country Runner

The engines rev as racers get ready for the Daytona 200 this weekend.

Eric Caudell, an Oklahoman racing cars, reserves a spot on his car for a Moore cross country runner.

He said it's about remembering the young Rachel Dawn Freeman.

“It is on the side of the car, and we have a photo of her on the dash taped on,” Caudell said.

Prime space for advertising his race car, instead he remembers not because he knows the family personally but because there’s a message.

“That was a big tragic item that happened, and it is just to keep her memory around,” Caudell said.

Rachel Dawn Freeman was killed in 2020 after a man hit her and others as they were running after school.

“Very dedicated, very determined, some of the reasons why she loved running so much,” Rachel’s father, Michael Freeman, said.

She was a runner, but now Rachel’s dad gets to see her run in races going some of the fastest speeds.

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” Freeman said.

#RachelDawnRuns is on the side of the car, something created after she passed away.

“That’s the link to her memorial page on Facebook and some of her friends, after her death, come up with that. That is how we remember her and post updates,” Freeman said.

The family isn't letting her memory fade away, paying it forward to local faith-based charities.

"After her death, with her life insurance money, I set up a memorial fund with the Oklahoma City Community Foundation,” Freeman said.

All to share her story of endurance near and far.