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.”