Special Just For Us
by MW - Iowa
[09/24/2026]
I am not a racing fan. I could neither change oil nor replace a flat
tire to save my life. Luckily, my father-in-law helped with all things
automotive.
Walt, a lifelong trucker, hauled jet fuel and ethanol across central
Iowa. He visited his grandchildren every weekend and tried to fit
in a car show or race whenever possible.
When the cancer spread to Walt’s bones in late 2022, I offered to
take him on a trip anywhere. I mentioned the beach and other
major destinations. Then threw out the Indianapolis 500.
Walt paused for a minute. He looked at me, and said, “The
Brickyard. The Milk. The Indianapolis 500. That’s a pretty big
deal. I would like to do that.”
We stayed in Whitestown the night before the event. Walt slept
poorly because his back tumors made resting in a bed nearly
impossible. We awoke early on race day and parked in a large
lot.
Pushing Walt in the wheelchair around the potholes and through
the rocky terrain proved difficult. Walt winced with each bump,
but he was more concerned about my having to push him.
Upon entering the venue, the crowd size astounded me. I grew
up going to Penn State football games, but The Indy 500 held
three times the number of spectators as Beaver Stadium!
Walt and I purchased some souvenirs for loved ones, gazed at
the “eccentric” crowd at the Snake Pit, and checked out the
Pagoda.
Then we watched the greatest spectacle in racing from our ADA
accessible seats just past the finish line.
Some guy named Newgarden zipped into first place late and held
on for the win.
He jumped out of his red and yellow car, strutted towards the
fence, and crawled through an opening.
Then Newgarden seemed to sprint right towards Walt and me.
We looked at each other, smiled, then started celebrating with
Newgarden.
Walt had worked up enough strength to stand up and snapped
some photos as I patted the winning driver on his helmet.
After the race, Walt and I made our way back to the parking lot.
I asked him, “Is that normal? Does the winning driver always go
into the stands and celebrate here?”
Walt replied, “No, Matthew. That was special just for us.”
Matt and father-in-law Walt at the 2023 Indy 500
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by MW - Iowa
[09/24/2026]
I am not a racing fan. I could neither change oil nor replace a flat
tire to save my life. Luckily, my father-in-law helped with all things
automotive.
Walt, a lifelong trucker, hauled jet fuel and ethanol across central
Iowa. He visited his grandchildren every weekend and tried to fit
in a car show or race whenever possible.
When the cancer spread to Walt’s bones in late 2022, I offered to
take him on a trip anywhere. I mentioned the beach and other
major destinations. Then threw out the Indianapolis 500.
Walt paused for a minute. He looked at me, and said, “The
Brickyard. The Milk. The Indianapolis 500. That’s a pretty big
deal. I would like to do that.”
We stayed in Whitestown the night before the event. Walt slept
poorly because his back tumors made resting in a bed nearly
impossible. We awoke early on race day and parked in a large
lot.
Pushing Walt in the wheelchair around the potholes and through
the rocky terrain proved difficult. Walt winced with each bump,
but he was more concerned about my having to push him.
Upon entering the venue, the crowd size astounded me. I grew
up going to Penn State football games, but The Indy 500 held
three times the number of spectators as Beaver Stadium!
Walt and I purchased some souvenirs for loved ones, gazed at
the “eccentric” crowd at the Snake Pit, and checked out the
Pagoda.
Then we watched the greatest spectacle in racing from our ADA
accessible seats just past the finish line.
Some guy named Newgarden zipped into first place late and held
on for the win.
He jumped out of his red and yellow car, strutted towards the
fence, and crawled through an opening.
Then Newgarden seemed to sprint right towards Walt and me.
We looked at each other, smiled, then started celebrating with
Newgarden.
Walt had worked up enough strength to stand up and snapped
some photos as I patted the winning driver on his helmet.
After the race, Walt and I made our way back to the parking lot.
I asked him, “Is that normal? Does the winning driver always go
into the stands and celebrate here?”
Walt replied, “No, Matthew. That was special just for us.”
Matt and father-in-law Walt at the 2023 Indy 500
PREVIOUS STORY INDEX NEXT
