Muskogee Man's Racing Simulator Helps Teen On Road To Recovery

A Locust Grove teenager who races cars had a terrible wreck a couple of months ago. He continues to recover in an out-of-state rehab center.

Daison Pursley's recovery is partly due to a Muskogee man's innovative racing simulator.

The simulator helps race car drivers all over the country feel more comfortable on the track.

And now it's helping a teenager from Locust Grove get back behind the wheel after getting hurt.

Daison Pursley has had a passion for racing since he was 10 years old. 

"It's a fun sport to get into when your younger, and can make a dream out of it," he said.

He was already on his way to big success at only 17. In November that all changed, after he wrecked during a race in Arizona.

Daison has a severe spinal cord injury and has been slowly recovering. He's now in an Atlanta rehab center with his mom, Shawnda Pursley.

"Everything we worked for was falling in to place," said Shawnda. "It all came to a dead stop."

"Daison is an incredible talent, and took me to another level," said WR1 Sim Chassis creator and Muskogee man Chad Wheeler. 

Chad Wheeler has a passion for racing too.

A few years ago, he developed simulators for drivers of all skill levels.

The simulators took off after debuting them at the Chili Bowl. Now 500 have been sold, with many going to NASCAR drivers and Chili Bowl stars like Kyle Larson.

"You can start off on dirt and work your way to NASCAR," Wheeler said.

Wheeler said Daison was one of the first people to use one of the simulators when he was just 13.

After hearing about Daison's injury, Chad and others wanted to help.

They figured out a way to get a simulator put in Daison's hospital room.

"It's helped him with some of his movement," said Wheeler.

"It gave me me a sense of normalcy and knowing I could race again," said Daison.

Chad said everyone in the racing community just wants Daison to get better.

"It's a blessing, and the racing community is just something everybody should experience," said Shawnda.

Daison is getting better, and said he won't give up without a fight.

"I'm working extremely hard, that's my long term goal is get back in a car and go fast again," Daison said.