Daytona International Speedway celebrated the opening of its new injector with a race for special needs children.

  • Axalta opened Daytona International Speedway inector Friday
  • Axalta donated special cars for children with mobility issues
  • They held a ribbon cutting and special race

The Axalta injector will help guide racing fans from the speedway entrance to the track.

Axalta also helped give some special children a thrill. Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. met with young racers Friday, including superfan Gage Spurlock.

"We invited children with disabilities with mobility through an organization called 'Go Baby Go.' Today we built 12 special cars for them," said Axalta official Joe McDougall.

Not only did they build them, but Axalta workers modified each car to fit the needs of every child, like Gage, who has limited use of his legs.

"Then today when the children arrived, we actually worked with them to design the cars, to fit them in their seats so that they could in there comfortably and safely," said McDougall.

Axalta is a coating company which puts special coating on everything from race cars to motorcycles. 

This year, they are sponsoring Earnhardt, who autographed the cars and even offered a few tips.

But the time came for every young racer to do what Junior and others will be doing for the Daytona 500 Sunday. They lined up on the starting line at the speedway.

And seconds later, crossed the finish line to applause and cheers.

The special needs children not only took their joy and experience home with them, but the cars as well.

"So today was their test drive down on the red carpet, but they take'em home and theirs forever," said the Axalta official.

A replica of the car Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be driving Sunday sits outside the injector and will remain there.