RPW Column: During This Season Of Giving, The World Needs More People Like Chris Eastwood

RPW Column By: BOBBY CHALMERS / RPW – PINE PLAINS, NY – Especially during the holiday season, giving of yourself to help others can present you with a sense of purpose. Giving throughout the entire year can show just what type of person you are.

Then, there’s people like Chris Eastwood…someone who gives just to give…and give he does. He’s the type of person that not only does things to make a difference but just to see others happy.

The world needs more people like Chris.

Fighting to overcome his own health challenges, Eastwood has work tirelessly and continues to do so. He’s given to people less fortunate than himself, but also to those, he feels, appreciate it.

While he wears multiple hats as a 9 to 5’er, it’s his own business, Eastwood Detailing, which allows him the ability to sponsor several race teams across the eastern part of the United States as they set out after checkered flags and just to enjoy the sport.

Chris doesn’t use racing to grow his business like other sponsors do. Quite the contrary. He uses his business to support his passion for racing.

“I love giving back to people,” Eastwood said. “I enjoy the Pro Stocks so much because that’s the class my uncle raced in. He played a roll in my father bringing to the track. When I was nine, I lost my dad so it feels like I’m keeping his legacy alive by helping out different drivers. That way, he’s always with me.”

Even with that, Chris has a special spot in his heart to “pay it forward,” as they say.

“When I was down and out about five years ago, I lost just about everything, including my job due, to an accident,” he said. “I spent about a month in the hospital and had to start over with nothing. People gave me work and helped me stay afloat. That’s why I give back.”

Part of the health issues Chris deals with daily will be with him for the rest of his life. That being said, he understands living life to its fullest and enjoying every moment he can. It’s also why he loves giving to others so they can enjoy every moment as well.

“I deal with a handicap every day,” he said. “I lost vision in my right eye so I had to fight for my job. For 10 months, I had no income or insurance. Others helped me with work cleaning cars and I felt that if I couldn’t get my job back, I was going to take my detailing business full-time. That’s how it got so big…when I wasn’t working full-time. Now, it’s allotted me the ability to give back.”

Give back he does. Drivers like Jay and Jason Casey, Daniel Sanchez, Richie and Chris Crane, Chad Jeseo, Nick Stone, Josh Coonradt and Jason Meltz are just a few of the countless drivers Eastwood Detailing supports.

“Chris is a dirt racing fanatic, a dirt racing advocate, but most importantly, a dirt racer’s friend,” Daniel Sanchez said. “He’s incredibly selfless in his efforts to support the local racers. I can’t thank him enough for everything he does for my race team and the racing industry in general.”

However, his support isn’t limited to sponsorship. Think about this for a second. How many of you been at Lebanon Valley over the years and heard announcers John Stanley and Dan Martin talk about two brand new racing tires on the back of the car sitting in victory lane? Yup, that’s Chris…even giving to racers he doesn’t sponsor.

“Chris has shown just tremendous support for auto racing,” Albany-Saratoga promoter and Lebanon Valley General Manager Lyle Devore said. “I think what he has done and continues to do is very gracious and I wish more people would follow his lead.”

Eastwood just loves the entertainment the Pro Stocks division gives fans every time they hit the track.

“The class is simply fun to watch,” he said. “They put on some of the best racing at any track on race night and that division will always have a special place in my heart.”

Even with his love of the sport, to many, this isn’t Chris’ greatest attribute. That would be his desire to raise money for Cancer Research. It’s simply amazing how much he’s been able to collect in such a short time.

To date, in just two years, Eastwood’s raised $7,500 to fight the disease and shows no signs of letting up.

“I lost two of my good friends to breast cancer,” he said. “I feel like even one dollar has the possibility to save someone’s life. I love to give back to the ones that need it and we need a cure for Cancer.”

Eastwood’s “Never Give Up” T-Shirt Drive has been an extremely successful program. Even during the pandemic-stricken 2020 season, he was able to raise $5,500 for cancer research. That just shows what type of person he is…always looking to give more than receive.

“I was lucky enough to have others support me when I was in need,” he said. “I try and do my part to do the same. I just do what I can.”

The effort Chris has put into this program hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“Any help in the fight against this horrible disease is a very big positive,” DeVore said. “He’s doing great things. Cancer’s touched a lot of us in some way or another.”

Sanchez uttered almost the exact same sentiment.

“Chris has worked tirelessly in raising money to donate to charity,” he said. “This man is a prime example that we have family, related by blood, but are also lucky enough to have family, related by dirt.”

Now, for 2021, Eastwood has more ideas rolling around in his head…namely, event promotion to go along with his class support. He has big plans on the way, and they continue to grow by the minute.

“So far, we’ve raised $11,000 for the Pro Stock class,” he said. “I have plans to work with a tour, plus put together some dash for cash events at Albany-Saratoga and Lebanon Valley. I also want to put up some money for the Pro Stock heat winners at Super DIRT Week, if it goes off and develop a couple $1,000-to-win Eastwood Detailing Pro Stock events at the Valley and Malta.”

That’s all in addition to his normal driver sponsorships. However, he’s not done. Chris is working on another amazing way to support the class.

“I want to have a complete car put together,” he said. “I want to have one ready in case a driver wrecks theirs bad enough that they need a back-up. That way, they can use it until theirs is back on track.”

I said it before, and I’ll reiterate one more time. This world needs more people like Chris Eastwood. Wouldn’t you agree?