Bobby Hamilton Jr.'s life has changed greatly since his father was diagnosed with cancer. Credit: Autostock

New perspective gives Hamilton Jr. new heroes

Our assorted daily stresses are typically inconsequential in the general scope of the grand plan. The chain of humanity at the checkout counter is not life-threatening, nor is the shoddy cell phone signal, the cable bill or the catatonic child in the Exersaucer sharing the range of his healthy little larynx.

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But it's easy to let triviality dictate our minutes, and thus our days.

It's what we do -- at least until we're subjected to a reminder. Mortality, for instance. When a man is faced with losing his life, or that of a loved one, the priority scale shifts dramatically. Awareness is keener.

Granddaddy's stories impact you deeper because you're listening closer. You relish the taste of Momma's chocolate chip cookies because you know they're only here for so long. The everyday is suddenly celebrated -- the dependable refuge of an ol' shade tree on a blistering summer day, waking up free of pain, laughter.

That's where Bobby Hamilton Jr. is.

In the wake of his father's cancer battle, Hamilton, Jr. views the world much differently than he did, say, last Christmas. He has to, because his father has to.

Cancer has transformed father and son --- individually and collectively.

"He ain't the typical rough redneck that he was, as far as wanting to get in a fight about it," Hamilton Jr. said Tuesday during a break in the action at Craftsman for a Cure, a fund-raiser hosted by Craftsman and Bobby Hamilton Racing to benefit the American Cancer Society and the Victory Junction Gang Camp.

"He'll stop and smell the flowers now. He'll sit and watch (granddaughter) Haley play in the sun, sit and watch Haley play in the sand. It's been hard sometimes, especially when you see that he don't feel good. The weight loss.

"He's usually ready to raise hell at any point in time, but now he's just kind of slowed down a little bit. It's (noticeable)."

Hamilton was unable to attend the event. Doctors request he remain close to home. But he's doing well. Radiation treatment has proven successful. Doctors are quite optimistic.

"It could be a whole lot worse," Hamilton Jr. said. "When you have your bad days, you remember everything's going to get better. This was a real eye-opener. It was a situation that scared us all.

	Bobby Hamilton Credit: Autostock
	Inside the Numbers Bobby Hamilton in Cup Starts 371 Wins 4 Top-fives 20 Top-10s 67 Poles 5 Avg. Start 23.7 Avg. Finish 21.3 In Busch Starts 86 Wins 1 Top-fives 11 Top-10s 22 Poles 0 Avg. Start 20.7 Avg. Finish 19.1 in Truck Starts 102 Wins 10 Top-fives 33 Top-10s 54 Poles 5 Avg. Start 12.4 Avg. Finish 12.9

"The C-word is scary anyway, and then all the sudden everything you put off for another day, you think, well, I've got time today. I've seen it with him. I've seen it with myself, as far as spending time with him. It's another aspect of growing up."

Hamilton Jr. assumed his maturation process was complete, thought he had it all figured out. There were sporadic professional setbacks, sure, but that's racing.

He was a successful NASCAR driver, with five Busch Series victories to his credit. He was a successful restaurateur, owner of the Courthouse Café' in Springfield, Tenn. He was a happy husband and father.

He'd breeze into BHR at lunchtime, eat with the boys, hang with the old man a bit, then mosey off to the restaurant or to family time with his wife and daughter. It was low, if not no, pressure.

But the past six weeks have required more of him. Added responsibility. He's had to be Bobby Hamilton, Jr. and Bobby Hamilton. He's had to know the answers for his 15 employees and his father's 70-plus. He thought he knew racing. He had no idea. Meetings. Budgets. Money. Contracts. Sponsors. All before he ever got to the track.

"Overall, everything we've had to endure, from personal to business, has been like, 'Holy cow where'd all this stuff come from?'" Hamilton Jr. said.

This experience has only elevated Hamilton's respect and admiration for his father. And the same goes for an esteemed colleague. And that, he says, may be the most eye-opening portion of the entire ordeal.

Through this experience, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has become his hero.

Suddenly, the incalculable burden Earnhardt assumed in Feb. 2001 was ever-so-slightly tangible. Enough, at least, to have an idea.

"That's why this is so scary -- all the sudden I kind of knew what Dale Jr. went through, because what would I do if I lost my old man?" Hamilton, Jr. said. "So when people started asking me, 'Who is your hero? Your dad?' I'm like, 'My dad's one of 'em, of course. But my new one is Dale Jr., because I don't think I would be doing what he's doing now.'"

Hamilton Jr. isn't saying he'd have hung it up, but he is wholly certain he wouldn't have been in the seat on Feb. 25, 2001 in Rockingham, N.C.

"I'd have had to taken some time, I think," Hamilton, Jr. said. "For him to jump right back in there and do what he's done, and go on and run DEI like he has, he has to be a hero."

Earnhardt was Superman. Superman doesn't die. His passing was even more shocking to Hamilton Jr. than the loss of his good friend Adam Petty. Petty used to hang with Hamilton and Casey Atwood, get into trouble, do what kids do. His death confused Hamilton, Jr. He was uncertain how to react.

So he called his father, told him the news, wept. Father consoled son, said if he so desired they'd find something else to occupy their time. Hamilton, Jr. would have nothing of it. They raced on.

And they will continue to race on. Dawn-to-dusk is all business. How can we improve Bobby Hamilton Racing? Dinnertime to bedtime is all family. How was your day?

"Spending that extra two hours is more important, because in all reality, one day myself or him is not going to be around," Hamilton Jr. said.

"The cancer word really puts everything in perspective. I know any time he asks me, 'Do you want to do this or do you want me to get somebody else to do it?' I'm like, 'Hell no, I'm gonna do it.'

"He's built this for me in the long run, and I'm trying to run it as best I can. It could be worse. We have our days we get emotional, but like my wife told me, 'Hey, you've got to be strong for him.' That's exactly what we're going to do."

The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.