"Great examples of fatherhood"

Words like 'thrilled', 'dedicated' and 'committed' are usually associated with NASCAR, but three drivers are taking these words off the track and into their homes.

After appearing in The February 12-14, 2010, issue of USA Weekend, NASCAR drivers Jeff Burton, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Michael Waltrip are being awarded by the National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI) for their dedication to their children.

"When we got the call, we were really proud and excited," said NASCAR spokesman, Ramsey Poston.

NFI is an organization that is battling father absence in homes around the country.

We try to improve the well-being of kids through educating, equipping and engaging fathers, said Roland Warren, president of the NFI.

In a study done by the NFI, half of the men surveyed said that when they became dads, they were not ready. Half of the men surveyed also said that they felt they were replaceable.

"I don't play golf cause I suck at it," Warren said, making a connection between how he felt about golf and how some men feel about fatherhood.

Awards like these to the NASCAR drivers try to engage the fans and give them role models.

These men are "great examples of fatherhood," Warren said, "These are great dads, not afraid to make a commitment to their family."

Poston and Warren both believe that NASCAR is a family sport, for spectators and drivers alike. Fans remember sitting together and watching these races with their parents, said Poston. They remember taking family vacations to the races and the communities that grow out of these families that camp out at the same races year after year.

Just looking at the names of drivers shows how a love for the sport gets passed down from parent to child. Frances, Petty, Earnhardt -- these names have adorned the leaderboards for generations as the sons pick up where the fathers left off.

NFI wants to make sure that fathers are there to begin with. Burton, Montoya, and Waltrip are joining other athletes who have been honored, including NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett, and former NBA star Allan Houston.