At 22, Devon Rouse is the second out NASCAR driver, but if he wins the upcoming race on July 9, he could become the first out NASCAR driver to win in the sport’s 73-year history.
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Rouse joined on Let's Go There on Audacy's Channel Q to discuss how his life has changed since coming out in June of 2020 and reveals when he's meeting up with his crush Colton Underwood.
Understandably, the news that Rouse will be racing at Daytona has put the spotlight on him and his moment. “You get caught up in the whole, everybody doing interviews, everyone asking you questions, and you see the highlights of your name and stuff," he said. "But then you still have to realize the motorsports world and the racing world is pretty traditional and old fashioned. There’s still your struggles within it, but I will say motorsports as a whole in 100% getting more understanding and more knowledge about diversity. Times are changing.”
Ever since Rouse came out in 2020, he says “life has significantly changed since then.” It wasn’t always easy though. “I lived a double life hiding who I actually truly was since 7th grade,” Rouse says. “As we sat in lockdown and quarantine not being able to do anything, I really got time to think about myself and about saw how bad my mental health was. My mental health was at an all time low. I really hit rock bottom with it and something needed to happen.”
“The positive thing that needed to happen was me coming out. I did that and for a long time I regretted it. I regretted it probably right up until I ran Daytona this year. Ever since then, with the outpour [of support] in the motorsports world I’ve had and just everything else, I don’t regret it anymore. It was the best thing I’ve ever done in my life. I’m living my true, best life.”
There was another topic we had to discuss before we let Rouse go. Whether or not he’s meeting Colton Underwood IRL. “I fly out to Colorado on June 26 if that gives you any hint!” He said.
Rouse will be taking part in a golf tournament that Colton is throwing and is looking forward to getting to know the former Bachelor contestant.
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