Team Dakota Logo

This inspiring collaboration between Sally Mott Racing, Team Dakota, and HeartWorks, brought together by Rountree Towers, united in the fight against hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and congenital heart defects (CHD). This partnership was born from a chance encounter when a business traveler, sent to a well-known bakery to bring treats back for his wife, crossed paths with Barry and Denise Whitlatch, parents of Dakota—an extraordinary young man whose story touched everyone he met.

Hero card for Team Dakota and Sally Mott Racing collaboration

A Purpose-Driven Partnership

Rountree Towers, a distinguished provider of tower services in commercial and residential communications and security that leads with heart in all they do, had recently partnered with Sally Mott Racing, and after this serendipitous meeting, they knew this was not a coincidence, but a purpose-driven opportunity. Together, these teams are harnessing the power of racing to raise awareness and drive advocacy for CHD research and support.

Dakota, who was born with HLHS, was given a prognosis that he would not live past 10. Yet, he defied those odds and lived to 21, with a passion for NASCAR and dirt track racing building a supportive community of fans, drivers, and advocates along the way. His journey inspired the creation of “Team Dakota,” dedicated to raising awareness of congenital heart defects and the critical need for research to improve outcomes for children and families affected.

Even though Dakota passed away on May 11, 2023, his dream lives on. In his honor, we are proud to announce that Sally Mott will carry the “Team Dakota” name on her MX-5 Cup car at the Martinsville race! Through this collaboration, we are using the platform of racing to bring national attention to HLHS and CHD, creating a call to action for others to get involved in this important cause.

Racing For A Cure

Team Dakota selected HeartWorks to amplify their mission of advocacy, promoting education, and driving support for research that could change the future for those battling CHD. Racing is more than a sport—it is a platform for making a difference. Together, we can create a world where every child born with a congenital heart defect has hope for a brighter tomorrow.

HeartWorks has designed a first-of-its-kind platform that brings together physicians, 
scientists, and engineers to find and develop treatments for the most severe forms 
of congenital heart defects (CHD) to further advance research in genetics, stem cell biology, clinical trials, and cell-based manufacturing.

We get treatments out of the lab and into clinical trials to be conducted simultaneously in collaboration with a consortium of world-class medical institutions. Our vision is that our therapies will become a cure so children and adults born with CHD will no longer
have to live with CHD.

Watch The Race

Cheer on Team Dakota and Sally Mott Racing on October 26. Watch the 100-lap race live on IMSA’s YouTube channel. Opening for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, the MX-5 Cup race is slated to start at 6pm ET on Saturday, October 26.

JOIN US IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Explore how HeartWorks is working to change outcomes for individuals with CHD. Learn more about our initiatives, get involved, and support the journey toward a cure.

tour the lab

Heart building is mind-blowing. We will show you how we transform a skin sample into beating heart tissue.

meet tim

We have never met someone who can't help bulid hearts. Schedule a meeting with our Founder to learn more about HeartWorks.

donate now

Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to a world where CHD can be effectively treated and cured.

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