NASCAR BTS: Race Fan Carol Messinger Experiences Healing Power of NASCAR
In this week’s NASCAR Behind the Scenes, one race fan Carol Messinger, who has been battling Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for eight years, experienced one of the best days of her life thanks to Pocono Raceway and the Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Foundation.
But to understand the significance of her day at the race track just last week, one must understand her journey with cancer that began with her diagnosis on June 2, 2005. She decided right from the start that she would approach her fight with lymphoma just like her favorite driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. approached every NASCAR race.
“The hardest part is not having a cure and knowing you have cancer that can at any time cause a secondary cancer,” Messinger said. “Mine has not been in remission for more than a year.”
“I have been given chemo and radiation for six out of the eight years,” Messinger continued. “I decided from day one that this was going to be a fight that I would challenge like my favorite NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. does as he races and competes for the championship.”
“Being a life-long NASCAR fan, it was easy to tie in the strategy of working for that prize.”
Messinger’s battle included months of treatment that would seemingly show good results, however, the cancer would rear its ugly head time and time again. Yet, she kept returning to the sport she loved, her favorite driver, and her home track for help in her healing process.
“We started with six months of chemo and had no ‘caution flags’ come out until completion of the treatment,” Messinger said. “But then six months later the PET/CAT scan showed the cancer was active and growing.”
“So we did more chemo and got back racing again,” Messinger continued. “All went well until another caution and then more chemo.”
“I felt like I was a stock car in need of major adjustment,” Messinger said. “This went on for seven and a half years and they just can’t seem to get it right.”
“We kept spinning our wheels,” Messinger continued. “So, that is the connection to Dale Junior as his past few years have been filled with adjustments, wins and struggles.”
Messinger, a life-long Dale Earnhardt Sr. fan and member of Junior nation, admitted that cancer and the treatments she has had to endure prohibited her racing passion, especially in not being able to attend a race in person.
“Cancer and chemo has taken away my favorite things,” Messinger said. “I cannot be in the sun, I have very bad pain in my feet and back so walking is challenging.”
“And I get very tired so I have not been able to go to races because you have to be in the sun, walk and handle a long day or night,” Messinger continued. “And of course, finances are tight as well with all the medical bills.”
Messinger’s dream came true, however, on race weekend at Pocono when the owners of the track, the Mattioli family, provided her with a special ticket package, with seating in the covered terrace level, a special parking pass, and an elevator pass to her seats.
“When I was told it would be possible to go to Pocono Raceway and that I was going as the guest of the owners, I was thrilled,” Messinger said. “I could not believe that someone would do that for me.”
“I had been feeling a little down because of the almost eight years of chemo, radiation, nuclear chemo and a really bad dose of chemo that put my heart in jeopardy of being damaged,” Messinger continued. “So I was excited to be able to do this and get back into the race.”
“My husband saw the immediate joy I was feeling when I knew I was going to the track again,” Messinger said. “From the time I crossed through the gate, I loved every second of being there.”
But the healing power of the NASCAR community continued and, thanks to the Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Foundation, Messinger got one more surprise during her day at the Party in the Poconos 400.
“Then I found out I was also going to a Dale Junior fan event with the National Guard,” Messinger said. “I was overjoyed and that was putting it mildly.”
“I was on top of the world.”
“When we arrived at the National Guard tent, they fed us, gave us bags of all kinds of #88 goodies, but most of all they talked to me and were very happy to have us there,” Messinger said. “We talked to those in the Guard and heard their stories as well.”
“Then Junior showed up and immediately there was a sense of respect in the hospitality tent,” Messinger continued. “Junior let us ask him questions.”
Messinger was able to ask Dale Junior about seeing his nieces race and giving them pointers with their racing. But the ultimate healing thrill for her was yet to come, as he chose her number to receive a signed die cast race car.
“Here he was talking to us,” Messinger said. “He is such a super star and handles it so well.”
“There I was standing next to my hero, the one I watch and try to get some relief from this life of cancer,” Messinger continued. “And he put his arm around me for a picture as he gave me the car.”
“He gave this sick old lady the thrill of a lifetime,” Messinger said. “You can’t find a better hero anywhere in this world.”
Messinger returned to her seat to watch her hero race and finish third at the Party in the Poconos 400. Little did she know that she had also attracted the attention of another person in a very similar situation.
“The seats were wonderful and no sun ever got to us,” Messinger said. “Then a young girl in her 20’s tapped me on the shoulder, took off her hat and showed me her six months after chemo growth of hair.”
“She told me to ‘hang in there’ as she was fine now and that I would be too,” Messinger continued. “She hugged me and walked away.”
“I was overcome with emotion as I realized that everyone, my family my friends, Dale Junior and even people that I did not know cared enough to help me feel the magic and forget for just one day that cancer was ruling my life.”
“NASCAR has been my escape and my encouragement,” Messinger said. “I am going to win the race and get my checkered flag too one day.”
“The memories of the day are locked in my heart and mind forever,” Messinger continued. “It took me a few days to come down to earth.”
“NASCAR fans are family and I’m proud to say that I am a NASCAR fan, a Dale Earnhardt, Jr., fan and a fan of Pocono Raceway,” Messinger said. “And I always will be.”
The Final Word – Michigan, where it all went to “H” for Mr. H.
1000 victories. That is a pretty hefty number no matter what you are talking about. For Ford, Greg Biffle’s performance at Michigan allowed the manufacturer to hit the milestone, 64 years after Jim Roper was declared the winner at Charlotte in the first ever NASCAR event. For the Biff, it marked his first win of the season and the 19th of his career to leave him eighth in the standings.
The only guys who had something that might have challenged the Ford driver was the Chevy boys from Hendrick. Sadly for them, they each had rather less than stellar finishes. Jimmie Johnson was tracking Biffle down, until a tire went down and the challenger creased the fence with two to go. Johnson finished 17th. Dale Earnhardt Jr had a car to contend with, but he went from first to a bug smudge as his engine let loose. Junior was finished in 37th. Kasey Kahne had a car that could anywhere, but he went from the front to the wall when a tire let go. He wound up 38th. That left Jeff Gordon, but he got pinched into the fence when Bobby Labonte broke loose just six laps in. Gordon was to end his day 39th. It was one hell of a day for Mr. Hendrick.
We had folks do well. Jeff Burton had gone 12th, 11th, and 11th in recent weeks before coming home 10th last Sunday to be within 20 points of a Chase place. Austin Dillon took his fuzzy cheeks out there and brought grand-dad’s car home in 11th. Danica Patrick looked like crap early (okay, her performance, not her own perky self) yet finished 13th.
They dumped Labonte from his regular ride to see if A.J. Allmendinger could find some answers. How did Bobby respond? Well, Labonte wrecked early while driving for James Finch to end up dead last. Allmendinger was 19th to be the best among the 30-something entries; those usually found 30th or something beyond that. Expect Labonte back for Sonoma, while former open wheeler Allmendinger is not listed driving for anyone.
As expected, road course ringer Ron Fellows is back. Making their Cup debuts will be Puerto Rico’s Victor Gonzalez Jr and former Craftsman driver Paulie Harraka. Also on track will be former CART, Indianapolis 500, and Formula One champion Jacques Villeneuve. 43 spots are open, just 43 cars are entered for this Sunday.
Rating Michigan – 8/10 – Dear Lord: It might be too much to ask for, but might we have an entire season broadcast by TNT? While we might tune in for the action, often we stay watching a race due to insightful and entertaining commentary. We might not miss much on the track, but we know we might miss something from the broadcast booth, thus we stay watching. Lord, I think those folks on ESPN are wonderful people, but I shudder to think what the Pocono and Michigan experiences will be like with them in August. Anyway, if you could perform a miracle here and keep Wally, Kyle, Adam, Larry and their track side colleagues on the air this summer and fall, I sure would appreciate it. Love, Ron. PS: I hope you had a great Fathers’ Day.
Next time out, they will be turning left…and right. Tony Stewart has won a pair at Sonoma and Jeff Gordon has done it five times, but the last time for them was back in 2005 and 2006. Since then, winners include such names as Montoya, Busch (both of ‘em), Kahne, Johnson, and Bowyer last year. You do not have to be a ringer there, just a great driver, like some guy named Earnhardt was back in 1995. Any one of those past winners entered could pull it off. Mark Martin won in 1997 but more often than not he also enjoys a Top Ten day in California. The boys and girl take to the track just north of the streets of San Francisco this Sunday. By the way, in case you were wondering, the last Ford winner there was Ricky Rudd, in 2002. Enjoy the week.
The Future of NASCAR – Spotlight on Ryan Preece
To say that the month of June has been exceptional for Ryan Preece is an understatement.
On June 3rd, he was named as part of the ‘Final Ten’ in the Peak Stock Car Dream Challenge. Each of these drivers will compete for the opportunity to win a development deal with Michael Waltrip Racing.
Four days later, NASCAR released the roster for the 2013 NASCAR Next initiative.
This program is designed to highlight the next generation of NASCAR’s rising stars. The drivers will participate in media and promotional activities throughout the coming year. Ryan was one of 13 drivers chosen and is the only representative from the Modified Division.
“I’m looking forward to being a part of it,” he says. “As a modified driver I’m representing the entire modified tour and that’s pretty special.”
June 13th brought more news. Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) announced that Ryan would make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut with them in July at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He will participate in testing with the Nationwide Series car before the race and due to a scheduling conflict, Ryan had to withdraw from the Peak Stock Car Dream Challenge. The decision was difficult but he feels he made the right choice.
“It’s unfortunate,” he admits, “but I feel like the deal with TBR is important and I’m excited. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime. Sometimes in life you have to make decisions and go down the path you think is right.”
To round out the weekend, Preece won back to back races Friday evening at Stafford Motor Speedway, adding his name to the record books. His first win was in the SK Modified feature event. An early spin on lap two sent him to the back of the field but he wasted little time charging to the front and captured the checkered flag.
After a quick celebration, he jumped into his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) car for the TSI Harley-Davidson 125 presented by G-Oil. A flat tire sent him to the rear of the field but Ryan rallied back once again and captured his sixth career NWMT series win.
Ryan has been racing full-time in the NWMT division since 2007. He was championship runner-up in 2009 and 2012 and is the current point leader this season. He also races full-time at Stafford Motor Speedway, Thompson International Speedway, part-time at Riverhead Raceway and participates in any other events he can fit into his schedule.
Ryan’s recent recognition and success should come as no surprise. He lives and breathes racing.
A native of Berlin, Conn., the 22 year old has been surrounded by the sport his entire life.
“My mother’s father owned modifieds and my dad started out in street stock and drove pro stock for a little while,” Ryan reminisces. “Then he stepped back and got me into racing when I was about 6 or 7 years old.”
He began competing in quarter midgets at Silver City in Meriden, Connecticut. He eventually began traveling and competing at more tracks. From there he progressed to a dirt Sprint Micro car and continued to move up as he gained experience.
At the age of 13 Ryan had a chance meeting that would significantly impact the direction of his career.
“There was a guy parked across from us at a race track in Pennsylvania,” Ryan explains. “He owned a modified and his name was Billy Swartz. He came over to my Dad and was joking with me and kept trying to get me to try out the modified. I was young and shy at the time but a few weeks later he convinced me to sit in the car. So I sat in it and they buckled me in and sent me out for a practice run. For my first time, I was pretty quick. That’s what started me down the path to driving modifieds.”
The family soon made the decision to sell the Sprint Micro and buy a modified car. Ryan gives his Dad credit for encouraging him to take the time to learn before rushing to compete.
“I think it’s a big reason that a lot of car owners trust me to race their cars,” he told me. “I don’t tear up a lot of equipment and we run really well.”
He appreciates the continued support of his car owners and sponsors including East West Marine, Gunsmoke Stables, Flamingo Motorsports and Falmouth Ready Mix.
“They make all of this possible,” he stated. “I wouldn’t be able to do it without them.”
It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact qualities needed to produce a successful race car driver but if passion and dedication is any indicator, you haven’t heard the last of Ryan Preece.
He summed it up best saying, “racing is pretty much all I do. I really have no interest in anything else. I want to win races.”
