Bobby’s Story
Back in May 2024, Bobby’s journey took a tough turn when an MRI at Scottish Rite revealed a tumor behind his left eye. Three days later, a biopsy confirmed that Bobby was diagnosed with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH).
Bobby’s doctors immediately scheduled weekly chemotherapy. At only five years old, this tiny hero faced chemotherapy head-on, even administering some of the treatment himself. After months of chemo, Bobby got the best news ever in December 2024 – he was cancer-free!
And as if that wasn’t enough magic for one day, that very same day, Bobby got a call from our founder Bert Weiss of The Bert Show. Bobby had been selected for Bert’s Big Adventure 2025 trip and would be celebrating his victory at the most magical place on Earth, Walt Disney World!
As we were getting ready to kick off our magical adventure, Bobby’s mom, Emily, gave us a glimpse into his world, and it’s all about cars, cars, cars! Whether he’s tinkering with toy engines, washing cars, racing through video games, binge-watching car videos on YouTube, or adding to his growing Hot Wheels collection, it’s all about cars all the time!
Emily even laughed as she told us that the bottom half of her car is always sparkling clean. Bobby proudly keeps the car spotless, though he’s not quite tall enough to reach the top half yet.
Vroom, Vroom! Get Ready for a Surprise!
When Greg “Chipper” Harvey, VP of Corporate Sales at Bristol Motor Speedway, heard about Bobby’s incredible journey and the fact he rang the bell, he knew he had to do something to celebrate! Chipper invited Bobby and his family to attend the Food City 500 on April 13th! The Food City 500 is an annual 500-lap, 266.5-mile NASCAR Cup Series points race held at the Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee.
But wait, there’s more! Our incredible friends at Zaxby’s covered round-trip flights, a boutique hotel stay, a rental car, and even gave Bobby’s family $1,000 to splurge on souvenirs and special memorabilia.
It’s Off to the Races!
Thanks to Bristol Motor Speedway and Zaxby’s, on Sunday, April 13th, Bobby, his mom, Emily, and his stepdad, Robert, experienced the absolute best of the Food City 500! To make the start of their day even better, Tommy from The Bert Show surprised Bobby and hung out with them for the entire day!
And they’re off… From the Speedway FAN ZONE Stage to the Kids Zone, souvenir shopping, and exclusive NASCAR garage tours, Bobby was smiling from ear to ear. They also got to sway along together at a Rodney Atkins concert, followed by a stop at Sugarlands Roof at Turn 4, and an epic Pre-Race Infield Experience.
Just before the green flag dropped, Bobby even attended the Driver’s Meeting with Chipper and stood at the Driver’s Intro Stage to watch all the pre-race festivities.
The engines were revving and the race was about to start! The crew made their way to a premium spot at Sugarlands Roof to catch the high-speed action at the start line. The crowd was going wild!
Shortly after “GO”, Bobby and his family were surprised with a spacious suite to enjoy the race in style, complete with all-inclusive food and drinks. After lounging in luxury and with just 25 laps to go, they made their way to Victory Lane to be part of the celebration and congratulate the winners up close.
Thanks to Chipper, Bristol Motor Speedway, and Zaxby’s, Bobby’s NASCAR dream came true in the most magical way. He didn’t just watch the race, but he felt like one of the drivers. Your generosity continues to fuel moments that mean the world to our families.
From ringing the bell to waving the checkered flag on an unforgettable weekend, Bobby, his family, and Tommy will cherish these moments forever.
