by Darrell Waltrip

Remembering Bobby Hamilton Bobby Hamilton's death is hitting the NASCAR world pretty hard. Darrell Waltrip and Ryan McGee are among those weighing in with their memories of the Nashville Fairgrounds legend. Tell us your memories.. More on Hamilton Hamilton dies of cancer Waltrip: My memories McGee: He stayed true Photos: Hamilton's career Boards: Fans reminisce

I talked with Bobby a few weeks ago, and he was so optimistic. Things were going well. I was worried about him, and I prayed for him. But I didn't think there was any urgency as far as anything happening to him in such a short time. Cancer is a tough battle. It took my dad and father-in-law. Cancer has affected so many of my friends, and I'm sure those of you reading this column would say the same thing.

Bobby Hamilton was really special to me. He was a local driver at the Nashville Fairgrounds when I first met him. He got his start there just like I did. His claim to fame was being the winningest driver at the Fairgrounds, and that's how I became aware of him. I went there for a Busch race in 1988. I needed somebody to help with my car because I was racing at Martinsville. I couldn't be in Nashville to practice or qualify.

Somebody suggested that I get Bobby Hamilton to drive the car for me. I said, "Fine." I had heard how great he was at the Fairgrounds so it was a natural thing to do. He got my car all set up. He qualified in the top three, and I flew in from Martinsville on Saturday afternoon. I didn't get any practice, hopped in the car, started in the rear, and it was the best handling car I ever had at Nashville. The thing drove like a dream, and we ended up lapping the field and winning the race. It was a big night for us, and I gave all the credit to Bobby.

When the race was over, I told him in victory circle, "I don't know how I'll repay you, but if anything comes up, I'll keep you in mind." Lo and behold, it wasn't too long after that they were filming Days of Thunder. They needed a driver for the camera car. I told Rick Hendrick that Bobby would be a good candidate. My crew told me what a natural talent he was, how easy he was to work with and what a great attitude he had.

Rick said, "Well, give him a call, and see if he wants to run the car at Phoenix. Now, it's just a camera car; it's not a real race car. The car is going to be loaded up with equipment. They just want to get the car in there and get some action shots." I told Bobby, but he was elated. "Man, I'll drive anything," he said. "I don't care. I'll drive a dump truck."

He went to Phoenix, and lo and behold, he drove so well and actually got up in the middle of the race to get some great footage for the movie people. He actually ended up leading the race for a few laps in a car that was loaded down with movie cameras. When the race was over, everybody was impressed with the job he did, what a nice man he was and how easy he was to work with.

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Lo and behold, the next thing I know he's got a great opportunity to go Cup racing. Later on, he had a pretty good little go of it with the King, getting two of his four Cup wins with Richard Petty and Robbie Loomis.

Then he got into the Craftsman Truck Series, which seemed like the natural place for him to be because he liked to build his own equipment, maintain and oversee his team.

Lo and behold, he won the Craftsman Truck Series in 2004, and he found a home. He gave a bunch of young guys opportunities to drive his stuff. That's the kind of guy he was. He was a sharing, caring and loving man who could drive the wheels off of a race car, and he was a great friend.

I talked to Bobby on occasion, and we would share stories about our setups at Bristol and Nashville. We ran very similar setups — "hillbilly setups" we called them — and we were doing that before anybody else was. In Japan at the end of 1998, we had a little run-in. Dale Jarrett had back surgery so I drove the No. 88 Ford for Robert Yates Racing. I was running great. Driving the No. 4 car, Bobby got into me a little bit, and I spun into the fence. I was really mad at him, and he knew I was.

We laughed about it later on. He said, "I avoided you for about a month or two because I didn't want to have to face up to the fact that I had wrecked my hero." That was the thing that touched me so much. A guy that had all the success he had told me that I was his hero. It meant so much to me that he felt that way because, in reality, he was a hero of mine. That he would even think that I had anything to do with his accomplishments was always flattering.

I'm so glad Bobby Jr. drove the No. 18 truck for his father in 2006. Even though he didn't win, it was kind of Bobby's vision like Dale Earnhardt Jr. driving for Dale. Father and son had a vision of having a team and working together, and I'm glad they got to do that for a little while in the Truck Series.

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My heart hurts, and I know all fans will be sad. Everybody will be praying for Bobby and his family. One other thing that I always admired about Bobby was he never left home. He stayed right there in Mt. Juliet, building his shop and team there. He hired local people that worked for him at the Fairgrounds. He never had any desire to move to North Carolina or anywhere else. I always asked, "Why don't you move closer to Charlotte? It might be better for you." But he said, "No, I like being near my friends."

Now, it's time of all of his friends to draw near his family and pray Bobby into the kingdom of heaven. That's my prayer. He's standing before the Lord right now, and the Lord is saying, "Bobby Hamilton, good job, my faithful servant." Bobby, like so many other race fans and people that knew you, we loved you, and we miss you. God bless.

Oh, by the way

Benny Parsons is in intensive care in the hospital in Charlotte. We all need to be thinking about Benny and praying for him because he's fighting the same battle that Bobby Hamilton fought. He, his wife Terri and that whole crowd need our prayers and support. Bobby lost his battle with cancer; let's pray for a miracle so Benny can win his.