Good Day Atlanta viewer information: May 7, 2025

NASCAR driver shares love of reading in Henry County

NASCAR driver Erik Jones visited Henry County’s Rocky Creek Elementary School on Wednesday, reading to students and helping re-stock the book vending machine installed there by his nonprofit, The Erik Jones Foundation.

ATLANTA - Racing and Reading in Hampton:

We’re still more than a month away from the Quaker State 400 taking over Atlanta Motor Speedway — but this morning, a top NASCAR driver spent a little time down in Hampton, visiting with local students and giving a new meaning to "speed reading."

NASCAR driver Erik Jones visited Henry County’s Rocky Creek Elementary School, reading to students and helping re-stock the book vending machine installed there by his nonprofit, The Erik Jones Foundation. The driver’s foundation encompasses several missions — including promoting early cancer detection and care and animal welfare — but a chief cause for Jones is encouraging kids to read. And what better way to get kids interested in books than by filling an eye-popping vending machine with books and placing them in schools?

Jones teamed up with Speedway Children’s Charities Atlanta and Atlanta Motor Speedway back in 2023 to install the so-called "Bookworm" machine at Rocky Creek Elementary School. And no quarters or dimes are needed for this vending machine; students buy books using tokens, which they earn at school through hard work and positivity.

Along with filling up the machine with new books, Jones was on-hand as Atlanta Motor Speedway announced the return of a reading initiative through the Henry County library system: kids (up to 18 years old) who meet their quarter milestone reading goal get two free race tickets to NASCAR weekend in June!

We love NASCAR here at Good Day Atlanta, and we love books, too — so, we didn’t hesitate to head down to Rocky Creek Elementary School to catch up with Erik Jones and students. Click the video player to check it out, and click here for more information on The Erik Jones Foundation.

Casting Call for May 7, 2025

There's a new paid gig with Tyler Perry Studios, and an HBO series needs kids for a filming in Dunwoody. Entertainment insider Tess Hammock joined Alyse Eady with this week's Casting Call.

Casting Call with Tess Hammock: Calling all friendly and not-so-friendly neighbors, Tyler Perry Studios is currently looking for actors for its upcoming production.
And Atlanta's micro-short film festival is back! Follow Tess on social media @Castingcallwithtesshammock

Joaquin Buckley preparing for Atlanta UFC fight

Joaquin Buckley is responsible for one of the best knockouts in UFC history and he's now getting ready for the biggest fight of his career to date in Atlanta. The man nicknamed ''New Mansa'' sat down with Natalie McCann to talk about his preparations, facing Kamaru Usman, and a lot more.

Joaquin Buckley on UFC's return to Atlanta: "UFC Fight Night: Usman vs. Buckley" takes place on June 14 at State Farm Arena. Buckley (21-6, fighting out of St. Louis, Missouri) plans to continue his momentum by adding a decorated former champion to his resume. A dynamic striker and KO artist, he has earned thrilling finishes against Colby Covington, Stephen Thompson and Vicente Luque. He now hopes to secure his seventh consecutive win to stake his claim for a championship opportunity. Tickets for the fight are available here.

Taste the Flavor Brunch Bar opens for business

Mother's Day is just around the corner, and taking her out to a nice brunch never fails. Chef Chris Fletcher is opening a new place that would hit the spot, and he joined Joanne Feldman in the Good Day kitchen to show off one of his signature dishes.

Flavor Rich Restaurant opening new location in Alpharetta, "Taste of Flavor Brunch Bar": Chef Chris Fletcher prepared his pollen-dusted scallops with asparagus, roasted corn, and morel mushrooms with corn foam.

How to get active on a busy schedule

It can be hard to muster up the energy to work out during the work week, but fitness coach Jackie Page has some fun ways to get you up and motivated even amid a busy schedule.

Jackie Paige talks National Physical Fitness Month: May is a time to promote the importance of physical activity, fitness and to raise awareness about the benefits and the different ways to get active. Fitness isn't just for athletes and doesn't always require burpees.

Four fun and easy ways to get active during the week

Turn Errands into Exercise: Park farther away, take the stairs, or do calf raises while brushing your teeth—little movements throughout the day really add up.
Walk and Talk: Catch up with a friend or take work calls while walking. It’s a great way to stay connected and active.
Make It a Game-: Try fitness apps, activity trackers, or fun challenges like 10 squats every hour or plank during TV commercials. Turn movement into play!
Take a Dance Break: Turn on your favorite song and dance like no one’s watching—even just 5 minutes can boost your mood and get your heart pumping.