"As of today, I am a cancer survivor," Bobby Hamilton, veteran NASCAR Truck Series driver said. "All you have to do is pray, that's all." Hamilton does not want anyone, including the media, referring to him as a cancer victim. On Friday, at Atlanta Motor Speedway,  Hamilton announced he will discontinue racing after Friday night's John Deere 200 and begin treatment at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for cancer of the neck. He hopes to return for the season’s final truck race in November in Homestead, Florida. In the meantime, Hamilton is turning his truck over to his son, Bobby Hamilton Jr.

Hamilton began his racing career at Nashville Speedway USA, where he won the track championship in 1987. In 1988, Hamilton got the NASCAR racing world's attention after racing in a special 4-car Superstar Showdown in Nashville against Winston Cup drivers Sterling Marlin, Darrell Waltrip, and Bill Elliott. In 2003, after 12 years and four wins in Winston Cup, Hamilton moved to the Craftsman Truck Series. In 2004, Hamilton won the 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship. He currently owns Bobby Hamilton Racing.