Tyler is the epitome of a NASCAR fan. In addition to actively following the sport, his room is fully decorated with NASCAR memorabilia and he sleeps on a bed covered with NASCAR sheets. During Tyler’s wish experience, he not only received a new piece for his NASCAR collection, but he also met his hero.

Tyler told the volunteers from the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Indiana that his greatest wish was to meet NASCAR superstar Jeff Gordon; however, the end of the Winston Cup Series season was rapidly approaching, and arrangements had to be made quickly to ensure Tyler could meet Jeff and his team, "The Rainbow Warriors."

The NAPA 500 — the Winston Cup Series season finale taking place in Atlanta, Georgia — was where Tyler’s wish would be fulfilled. For the first time in his life, Tyler boarded an airplane on route to Atlanta. The plane flew much higher than Tyler anticipated, but he enjoyed the flight nonetheless.

During their stay in Atlanta, Tyler and his family were treated like VIPs, touring the Coca-Cola Museum and visiting the Hard Rock Café, among other tourist activities. But the highlight of Tyler’s visit to the South was yet to come.

On the morning of the race, Tyler and his family were escorted by a pace car to the garage of the Atlanta Motor Speedway, where Jeff Gordon awaited. It was a moment Tyler had anticipated for a long time. Although he is not very talkative, Tyler mustered the courage to tell Gordon how much he admired his favorite driver. The admiration was definitely mutual, and Gordon expressed his appreciation for Tyler by giving him an autographed shirt, which now hangs above Tyler’s bed.