Kris Martin – Ability, Not Disability

By Lindsay Hutton

Ability, Not Disability

Becoming a top NASCAR racecar driver requires skill, years of practice, fearlessness, luck and a keen desire to win. Kris Martin, a Canadian NASCAR driver, possesses all of these qualities. However, unlike all of his fellow racers in North America, Kris was born deaf.

Born in Burlington, Ontario, Kris fell in love with the excitement of the racetrack at an early age. However, driving a racecar doesn’t just mean putting the pedal to the metal. Winning a race needs the help of "spotters," people working with the driver from the sidelines who communicate with a radio. Unfortunately, if you’re deaf or hard-of-hearing, this can be a little tricky.

At the age of eight, Kris had surgery to have cochlear implants put in place. From then on, Kris quickly learned to hear and speak while his love for racing bloomed. Fortunately for Kris, several pieces of high-tech devices were developed that could help Kris become a contender. On the track, Kris’ spotters can communicate with him via a radio connected to his CIs.

As well as being an up-and-coming driver, Kris also travels around North America on behalf of VOICE and the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association, speaking to kids about focusing on their ability, not their disability.

Kris and I sat down to chat about growing up deaf, his experiences and his path to making NASCAR history.

Q: Sometimes growing up deaf or hard-of-hearing can be difficult when dealing with friends. Did you have any experiences like this?
A: Yes, it was a challenge sometimes. Sometimes other kids were afraid of me, nor not sure how to approach me. It was my job to approach them, too, once they learned I was really no different than them. Most kids were cool with that, and we worked out things as we went. My love for racing gave me the confidence to succeed socially as well.

Q: When and how did you start to get interested in racing?
A: My grandfather, uncle and cousins are racers. I am from a large racing family. When I was three, I started to watch my uncle race. It was so cool. I loved the smell from the tires, the engine, and the speed. I told my parents I wanted to be a racer, so my parents made me a deal. They told me that if by the time I was 10, I still wanted to race and had good grades, then I could race. I kept up my end of the deal and when I was 10, there was a go-kart under the Christmas tree!

Q: Growing up, who were the people in your life that helped you the most?
A: My family was my biggest supporters; they drove me all around North America to race and made a lot of sacrifices to do that. My teachers were very supportive as well; they helped me keep up with school so I could race.

Q: Often deaf and hard-of-hearing people face some obstacles from people who don’t understand the disability. Can you give us an example of this?
A: At a race in North Carolina, USA, some people had concerns [Note: Some people thought because Kris was deaf, he would not be able to handle the car properly, and ruin the race track]. It doesn’t bother me; I just need to show them that I can, and gain their trust.

Q: Tell us about a few of your proudest moments, both on and off the track.
A: Off the track, I felt really good when I graduated from high school with honours. [Note: Kris attended a regular, or "mainstream" high school in Burlington, Ontario.] It was a lot of work, but worth it. My proud moment in racing was winning a Mosport road course on Father’s Day in my first year of Cup Lites (a kind of race for drivers who are just beginning their professional career).

Q: Tell us about your next race.
A: I will be racing this summer at Delaware Speedway in London, Ontario. There is a really cool race coming up called the Summer Showdown, where I’ll be racing against 3 NASCAR drivers: Kyle Busch, David Reutimann and Regan Smith. Check my website for details.

Q: Finally, what advice do you have for kids growing up deaf or hard-of-hearing?
A: I like to encourage all kids to be the best you can be. Believe in yourself, no matter what the obstacles are – you can do anything! Focus on your ability, and not your disability!