Meet NASCAR fan Travis Carpenter

By Terrin Waack | Published: November 7, 2019 26

Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

Travis Carpenter is a 12-year-old NASCAR fan with neurofibromatosis, a rare genetic disorder that affects the growth and development of nerve cell tissue and therefore can cause tumors anywhere in the body.

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

Carpenter was born with NF in 2007, becoming the one in 3,000 who end up diagnosed with the disorder.

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

Because of NF, Carpenter's left leg is longer than his right, so these are shoes that have been made for Travis to balance his stance.

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

The rod in Carpenter's leg after surgery for his fractured left femur -- which happened once in 2014, then eight months later in 2015 -- ultimately ended up being transformed into a piston cup after it was removed.

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

Carpenter is in the midst of his third clinical trial, the fourth round of experimental medicine and has been subject to 37 MRIs.

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

At the beginning of his current clinical trial, Carpenter's tumor volume was measured to be 1,736 milliliters -- his mom says the actual tumor is still larger.

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

But, even through all that, Carpenter has stayed positive and truly found a passion for racing.

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

Carpenter went to his first NASCAR race in March 2016 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Dover is also among the tracks he's been to. Sunday's race at ISM Raceway in Phoenix will be his fifth event.

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

Carpenter's current favorite driver is David Ragan, because the driver of the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford supports the Shriners Hospitals for Children, where Carpenter goes for his long-term orthopedic care.

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

Carpenter has visited with Ragan at every NASCAR race he has been to, whether his whole family was there or not.

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

There is a photo of Ragan's Shriners Hospitals for Children paint scheme on Carpenter's leg brace, which Ragan has signed more than once.

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

Before Ragan, though, Carpenter was -- and still is -- a big Kyle Busch fan because he loves the candy paint schemes.

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

There's also a photo of the M&M's car on his brace, which Busch has also made sure to sign.

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

And since Carpenter loves candy, the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota team allows him to take some from the hauler when he's at the track.

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

Carpenter even helped the No. 18 Toyota pass inspection at Dover International Speedway in 2017.

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

Carpenter has also met many other NASCAR members at the track, including Chad Knaus, current crew chief of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

Here is Carpenter with Brad Keselowski, driver of the No. 2 Team Penske Ford.

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Photo courtesy of NASCAR Foundation

In 2015, The NASCAR Foundation's Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award supported the Children's Tumor Foundation and Carpenter was invited as the child representative.

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LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 04: during the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Show at Wynn Las Vegas on December 4, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Graythen/NASCAR via Getty Images)

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Jeff Hanson, who also has NF, was ultimately the 2015 award winner for his work with the Children's Tumor Foundation.

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LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 04: during the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards at Wynn Las Vegas on December 4, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Graythen/NASCAR via Getty Images)

Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

It was at 2015 Champion's Week in Las Vegas where Carpenter actually first met Busch.

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

Carpenter got to help hype the crowd up outside the Wynn Las Vegas prior to the NASCAR Awards.

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

When asked how many diecasts he has, Carpenter said: "If I counted, it would probably take me all day. I’ve probably got like 2,000 cars. Diecasts might be like 100, maybe 200.”

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

Carpenter will even watch races while getting treatment: "When NASCAR is on, it makes me feel happy."

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

The Children's Inn at the National Institutes of Health, where Carpenter does his clinical trials, sometimes brings in his favorite Georgetown Cupcakes.

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

There's an ice cream shop in Salt Lake City, where the Carpenter family lives, that has named a flavor specifically after Carpenter: the Travis Hot Tamale.

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Photo courtesy of Kelly Carpenter

A cure hasn't been found for NF yet, but Carpenter keeps his spirits up with the help of his family and racing.