Waylon's Wish to Go to The Daytona 500

He likes rib-eye steaks, vanilla sheet cake, and playing baseball with his buddies. But Waylon’s need for speed separates him from the crowd. Waylon LOVES watching NASCAR. Waylon’s love for racing runs through his DNA and is a favorite pastime of his family. 

Unfortunately, Waylon’s normal activities, like playing video games and going to the park, came to a screeching halt when he was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a cancerous brain tumor. Waylon’s new normal became filled with radiation treatments, hospital stays, and painful surgeries. Still there was one special place that could help Waylon forget his new normal, a racetrack.  

Waylon wished to go to the Daytona 500. When envisioning his wish, he could smell the burning rubber, hear the roaring fans, and feel the rumble of the race cars surrounding him. On February 12th, his wish came true.  

Waylon had three full days to explore the Speedway and attend many special events before the big race day. Waylon went on a special garage tour to see his favorite cars and was even able to meet professional racecar drivers, Chase Elliot and Kyle Larson. Everything was just as Waylon wished UNTIL the rain came.  

The Daytona 500 was delayed a day because of a rainstorm. Because Waylon and his family were scheduled to return home the following day, he thought he would miss the big race. But Make-A-Wish New Mexico was not going to let a little rain stand in the way of Waylon’s wish! With some emergency rescheduling, Waylon was able to stay an extra day to experience the Daytona 500!  

When Waylon did have to return home, he returned home with the confidence, joy, and hope that a wish brings.