The Hooten Family
This story starts in 2010 when we were introduced to this "racing family". The three Hooten children were racing in the NHRA Junior Dragster Program.
As posted in our original JDNL website:
In the Hooten family, father (Tom Hooten) is type 1 – as are his sons Nick and Tyler. Nick is a seasoned junior dragster about the graduate to adult leagues in one more year. Tyler who seemed to “just complete his rookie year” in 2009 is poised to start his 4th season in 2012. Their younger sister Julia (who is also Type 1) also races in the Junior Dragster program and just completed her 7th year! On occasion, she came up in a head-to-head race with one of her brothers in 2011. Obviously each sibling hopes to win and advance, but when one doesn’t, they pitch in to help the winning sibling continue competing the rest of the day.
This is a family that sticks together. They work as a team by preparing for races and sharing parts, tools and know-how. All three “boys” and Julia expertly manage their diabetes using insulin pumps. They don’t let diabetes get in the way and lead what they consider a “normal life” – but they are "exceptional lives” to anyone else who knows them! They are committed to winning on the track - and in the race to beat diabetes.
Mom (Denise Hooten) is a huge supporter of programs that focus on diabetes research – and events and activities that bring youngsters with diabetes together to learn how they can manage their disease and pursue their life’s ambitions. Denise is a tireless fund raiser and advocate for anyone with juvenile diabetes.
This is active family takes life “head on” … and was one of the first to join the network of supporters for Juvenile Diabetes No Limits Foundation.
Early years: Racing and diabetes management.
Safe driving was a priority and continues to be.
On their way to achieving active, healthy, productive lives!
Hooten’s in 2024 – All Grown Up
by: Denise Hooten
Our story continues 14 years later with the Hooten clan. This story started in 2010 when we were introduced to this "racing family". The three Hooten children were racing in the NHRA Junior Dragster Program and now ALL ADULTS.
The Hooten family father (Tom Hooten) is now retried (for 2-½ years) because in 2021 he survived dialysis at home, and a Kidney/Pancreas transplant. He is doing great. He continues to stay busy with racing and our 2 granddaughters. He plans to race more this year with his Chevy Caprice at drag and drive events, attend car shows and do more traveling tackling his bucket list.
Nick (30 years old) has been a Firefighter/Paramedic for 8 years, married for 3 years and has 2 beautiful girls, 2 dogs and 6 chickens. Nick continues his education on his next step of becoming a Lieutenant. Nick and Tom finished building his 1979 Camaro Z28 (bought when he was 15 years old) street legal/race car and continues to love racing. He plans of continuing to do more drag and drives with his father and bracket race with the Chevy II.
Tyler (28 years old) is in technology and no longer races but likes to help out when time permits. His interests are cyber security, graphic design and gaming.
Julia (25 years old) has her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and works in the NEURO ICU at our local trauma hospital for over 2 years now. Julia took a small break while finishing college and now back in our 1967 Chevy II race car. She’s had her racing license for a few years but now will be able to race more and looking forward to seeing her on the track more often. She bought a house last summer and rescued a puppy 4 years ago.
The 3 kids expertly manage their diabetes using insulin pumps/CGMs. They still don’t let diabetes get in the way and lead what they consider a “normal life” – and continue to lead "exceptional lives” to anyone else who knows them!
Mom (Denise Hooten) is a huge supporter of programs that focus on diabetes research – and events and activities that bring youngsters with diabetes together to learn how they can manage their disease and pursue their life’s ambitions. Denise is a tireless fund raiser and advocate for anyone with juvenile diabetes. She now has learned kidney failure, dialysis and pushed to transplant and is a huge advocate for her family. Saying “NO” is not in our vocabulary. Teaching my kids that they can do anything they put their minds to.
This active family continues to take life “head on” ... and was one of the first to join the network of supporters for Juvenile Diabetes No Limits Foundation. The Hooten Family are now instructors/educators of our driving program.
