The Battle off the Track: How Cancer Has Affected Our Racing Families
Volume 6
STAFFORD, CT – One of the toughest feelings in life is being unable to take pain and suffering away from your child. Stafford Springs Motor Speedway Late Model champion Michael Bennett experienced that feeling this year, with his son, Chace.
Michael and his wife, Lindsay, had just welcomed their daughter, Tenley, to the world in July. At that time, Chace had been acting out of sorts. The couple had concerns about Chace, and brought him to the doctor to be tested for Lyme disease. After a few hours, the bloodwork returned, but it wasn’t what the Bennett’s expected. Chace was diagnosed with leukemia.
On Chace’s diagnosis, Michael explains, “It definitely has put a different outlook on life. Anyone’s life can be flipped upside-down in one phone call. We are just living life day-by-day, and making the most out of every day”.
Michael was in the midst of a stellar season, as he had won five races before Chace was diagnosed. That week was a tough decision, but the team decided to continue to race, and at the following race after the diagnosis, Michael drove his way to his sixth of seven victories on the year.
Bennett explains, “We were very blessed by the racing community with people buying stickers that Woody Pitkat and others had made and sold in the #RaceforChace”.
Bennett would, of course, go on to win the championship in the Late Model division, and Chace is on his way to winning his battle as well. Chace has been under the care of Dr. Kerry Moss at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, and has been in remission since September. Although the news has been good, Chace’s fight is still in progress, and he will be receiving treatment for the next three years.
Michael will be driving in the Karting to Conquer Cancer event at On Track Karting in Wallingford, CT, on January 16. The event will benefit the Jimmy Fund and Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and will feature participants from all around New England in support of the fight against cancer.
On the Karting to Conquer Cancer event, Michael says, “I am glad to be a part of this event, because no matter what, cancer will always be a part of our lives. Racing in any form; karts, cars, etc., is a great way to get people aware of the challenges that come with cancer, and if this is a small way I can help, than I’d love to help”.
While the Bennett family is still dealing with the adversity of this horrible disease, Michael does offer a few words of advice, saying, “If anything, we have learned to trust your doctors, and everything they do”.