Hamilton: I have cancer

Former Truck Series champ out of truck after Friday's race at AMS

March 17, 2006
03:51 PM EST (20:51 GMT)
Bobby Hamilton has never been one to wear his emotions on his sleeve, but even he had a hard time holding back tears when he announced on Friday that he has been diagnosed with neck cancer.
But Hamilton retained the tears -- and his humor.
"It's called head-and-neck cancer. I don't have anything wrong with my head, but [Ken] Schrader said a lot of people would doubt that," said Hamilton.
Hamilton, 48, will begin radiation and chemotherapy treatment on Monday at Vanderbilt Medical Center in his hometown of Nashville, Tenn.
Hamilton considered racing while undergoing treatment, but when he starting studying the side effects, he changed his mind.
"Out of respect for everyone I race against, I didn't think it was fair for my competitors to even think there was a problem," said Hamilton.
His son, Bobby Hamilton Jr., will drive the No. 18 Dodge for the remainder of the season, but the elder Hamilton said that he is aiming to return to racing by November.
"The situation to come back home and race is exciting, but the way the situation turned out just sucks," said Hamilton Jr. "It is not what we want to experience, but it is what we are dealt with."
Despite the grim diagnosis, Hamilton was defiant, labeling himself as a "survivor, not a victim."
Ironically, Hamilton went to his dentist with wisdom tooth pain last fall, but even after the tooth was removed, the swelling in his neck didn't recede.

NASCAR veteran Hamilton provides update on his battle with cancer
December 21

NASCAR veteran Bobby Hamilton continues to undergo chemotherapy treatments for cancer discovered earlier this year, according to a press release from Bobby Hamilton Racing on Wednesday.


The 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion and his doctors were optimistic in August after extensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments, the release said, but microscopic cancer cells still remained in the right side of his neck.

Hamilton “is continuing his chemotherapy treatment and has gone through several procedures to keep the cancer at bay,” the release said.

Hamilton, a Nashville native and one of Tennessee’s most successful and popular racers, recently hired NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader to drive for his Mt. Juliet-based truck series team next season.

In the press release, Hamilton said his battle with cancer is a “private matter” and thanked a number of his supporters “from the bottom of my heart.”

“I have great people surrounding me at BHR who really stepped up to the plate to ensure that my company is on the right track for 2007 and beyond,” Hamilton said. “ … I’m still here, despite what people say, and I’m still calling the shots around BHR. Our sponsors have been very understanding and their support is tremendous. We will continue to be a championship caliber team.”

As for his fight with cancer, Hamilton said: “We are going to continue to search for the best available treatment for my form of cancer. I have flown to several places for other opinions. We know there are some of the brightest minds in the world working on a cure for cancer. I didn’t want to be labeled as a victim when I announced it and I sure won’t lie down and be a victim now.”

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Ryan Newman, Daytona 500 Champion!!
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I was so optimistic when I posted this article, and now he has passed away after his battle with cancer. It is a real shame, he was a good racer and a very good man. He will be missed and I feel so bad for his family. Please do lift the family up in prayer.

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Ryan Newman, Daytona 500 Champion!!
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Prayers are with Bobby's family. I'm glad for one thing, and that is that he got to see his grandchild.

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Go Junior Go. Go Smoke Go.