GAINESVILLE- It was exciting out there today… with all the cars, drivers and food!

But one of the best things I found was one special 17 year old and his family… whose day was an escape from a bumpy road. 

 

Gatornationals is filled with loud engines, dreamy cars and tons of famous drivers…but today the spot light was on Dusty Thomas.

Dusty was diagnosed in November with T2 cell lymphoma. 
 

Something he and top fuel driver Steven Torrence have in common. 
 

Both were diagnosed at age 17.

Both had soft-ball-size tumors in their chests. 
    

But today, that pain was left in the back seat and Dusty was among the stars-- riding in his very own race car…well somewhat. 
 

Dusty got to hang out with the drivers, check out their trailers, and of course take some pictures with the ladies. 

"Do you think this was a good day for him or what," I asked.

 

"Yeah," said Savanna Terrell, Dusty's sister. "I think it was probably the best since he had cancer."

"It makes your heart warm, to see him and enjoy it," said Heather Ashley, Dusty's mom. "This has been the longest day that he has been up and awake. This is great."

All thanks to a program called "Believe in Tomorrow" and "Racers for Christ."
    

Together they've been giving a day of escape to kids with life threatening illnesses for the past 5 years.
     
"We know that this is God's way of letting us give back and giving the race teams an opportunity to give back to these families that are going through such a tragic time," said Larry Smiley, President for Racers for Christ.

    

They've been giving kids like Dusty a day of fun and laughter

This is something his mom said she hasn't seem him do in a long time. 
 
"He's excited," said Ashely. "Obviously he's tired and he's sick from his chemo. I guess he wishes he wasn't sick so he could have enjoyed more of it but he's grateful."
 
As a survivor the one message Torrence has for Dusty and for all the other youngsters battling cancer... is to drive on and keep both hands on the wheel. 

"You can get through it really quick and keep going with your life just that part of your life is difficult but you have a lot of years to live," said Steve Torrence, Top Fuel Driver.

 

So as Dusty's mom mentioned he was still feeling the chemo's side affects today... making it very difficult to spend too much time under the sun and around so many people.
    

When it came time to ask Dusty what he thought of it all... he really just didn't have energy to talk...but after spending time with him today... his facial expression said it all.