When Ryan Hunter-Reay and his wife, Beccy, were starting their family, the natural questions were asked if he wanted to see his sons start racing one day.

Hunter-Reay, the winner of the 98^th Indianapolis 500 in 2014 and the 2012 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion, used to joke that with the cost of competitive karting and other junior formulas, he might buy them a tennis racket or a set of golf clubs, instead.

But Hunter-Reay has created some memorable family moments during the COVID-19 shutdown by packing up his wife and kids and heading off in the motorhome for some quality karting time.

The Hunter-Reays have rented the karting facility at Homestead-Miami Speedway for two days of family racing. That includes sons Ryden, 7, Rocsen, 5 and Rhodes, 4.

The family spent May 14-15 at the karting track located outside of the speedway in Homestead, Florida. They intend to return for two more days of karting next week before Hunter-Reay resumes action with the 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES at its season opener Saturday, June 6 at season at Texas Motor Speedway.

“It’s really been our only escape away from home,” Hunter-Reay said of the family karting trips. “We rented the track privately and took the bus. It was a good opportunity to take the kids in the motorhome. They wanted to camp out. We got to do that, too. It got me in for a good workout two days in a row, and we’re doing that again next week.

“It all fell into place.”

The practice days are for family fun and to help familiarize his young sons with the finer details of racing. Because the Hunter-Reay’s have rented the facility, they are on the only ones on track, which he believes is important for kids at that age.

Ryan has a 175cc shifter kart, Beccy a 125cc TAG (touch and go) kart while his eldest son Ryden has a 100cc junior setup on his kart. Rocsen and Rhodes use what is called a kid kart.

Hunter-Reay feels the pride that only a parent can experience when they see their sons pick up an activity and show steady improvement.

“It’s special because karting is the purest form of motorsports,” Hunter-Reay said. “There is no added pressure at this point. That is what I loved when I got involved in racing. I loved the adrenaline side of it, I loved going fast, and I loved the escape. When you are out there, you are in a completely different world. You are not thinking about anything else. It’s really cool to see them get the intricacies of it.

“My oldest son will have a tank-slapper going into the corners and he will pump his fist in the air like he won a race because he caught the car and it didn’t spin.

“And we can all enjoy it together when we are on the track together. I can lead, follow and show him the way and the lines, and then he goes another half-second faster after I led him because he learned those lines. Then we can talk about all of that.

“It’s great family time.”

Hunter-Reay has seen various stages of improvement on the karting track. He describes Ryden as being more of a “thinker” and Rocsen as a driver who gets on with it quickly.

His kids have been karting one a month, but according to their dad, they are having fun, and that is the most important thing at their age. But there are times when the rapid improvement frightens Dad.

“Ryden is going fast enough where it scares me when I’m following him,” Hunter-Reay said. “This is pretty quick for a 7-year-old.

“When I got started, I was 12 years old, we were racing karts that were much slower than the juniors are right now, with much different engines.”

Homestead-Miami Speedway is 70 miles from Hunter-Reay’s home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The time at the facility has given the family moments to remember, but it’s also helping the Andretti Autosport driver of the No. 28 DHL Honda prepare for the upcoming NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.

“I’ve been working out and doing my stuff here at home, but there is nothing better than seat time, especially karting,” Hunter-Reay said. “It’s such a beneficial workout, and you are exercising your cardio, your core and your reflexes. Your mind is firing in the same state of mind that it is in a race car.

“When I got back in, I had a smile on my face the whole time. That has been the highlight for me during this lockdown, to get out on the track and do it with my family. That’s why we are doing it again next week.”

Hunter-Reay’s downtime during the COVID-19 shutdown has also included plenty of time on the simulation rig at home and teaching his kids how to master that form of competition.

The unexpected time at home has had some positive benefits for the Hunter-Reays, who are building some memories that will last a lifetime.

“That has been great about it,” Hunter-Reay said. “I think I’m the luckiest guy in the world. I get to drive Indy cars for a living and do what I love and get to be home with my family during the week. I have a healthy offseason, as well. The day-in, day-out I have grown with the kids and the homeschooling, it’s been good. When I go out now to do anything, they want to know where I’m going.

“The family time has been precious, for sure.”