CAIN:JUNIOR'S DECISION TO SIT OUT IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT

RELATED: Dale Jr. to miss Sunday's Loudon race

There should be no debate. No second-guessing.

The decision for NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr. to sit out this weekend's Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire was actually an easy one. The absolute right one.

Doctors are concerned that Earnhardt has suffered another concussion, or at least concussion-like symptoms and have recommended his body must heal.

He may even miss next week's race at one of the sport's most legendary venues, Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Should he need to do so, his former Hendrick Motorsports teammate and longtime friend Jeff Gordon has graciously offered to step out of retirement and drive Earnhardt's famous No. 88 Chevrolet -- allowing Earnhardt another week of healing.

Should the 41-year-old need to sit out the rest of the season, that's fine, too.

And should NASCAR's reigning 13-time Most Popular Driver ultimately find out that he needs to unstrap for good, how admirable and inspiring that he could make that decision, too.

Collective gasp.

That's right. At only 41 years old, Earnhardt still has a lot of wonderful, memory-making days ahead -- perhaps on the race track and certainly off the race track.

How good and fortunate that he is driving in an era when his symptoms could be properly diagnosed and addressed. And that both his boss, Rick Hendrick, and "Junior's" massive legions of fans, would fully understand and support his healing outside the cockpit of a race car.

"The most important thing in this whole process is for Dale to get better and feel better; and we're going to let that happen on the timeline it's going to happen on," Hendrick Motorsports General Manager Doug Duchardt said Thursday.

RELATED: Hendrick, NASCAR officials speak to Junior's injury, protocols

Ricky Rudd may have raced with his eyes taped open in the good 'ol days. And in the good old days, Tim Flock drove with a monkey in his car.

But this is NASCAR in 2016 -- with digital dashboards, million-dollar paychecks and best of all, the very tops in modern medical treatment.

Thankfully, Earnhardt doesn't have to feel compelled to drive when he is not right, when he is suffering from concussion-like symptoms.

It's not only best for him to heal up, but also best for the entire starting field that he heal up.

"For him to step out of the race car, it must be something serious," driver Carl Edwards said Friday at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. "I hope he recovers quickly and, second, I have a lot of respect for making the decision. I can't imagine how tough that decision would be.

"Right now with the format, you do have the opportunity to take care of yourself, do what you think is right and still have a shot at the championship."

RELATED: Drivers react to Junior's health news

Beyond his massive NASCAR superstardom, Earnhardt is a rather "regular" guy. He drinks beer with his buddies and loves to spend time with his family. He's engaged to Amy Reimann, and they are set to be married soon. And who knows if a Dale Earnhardt III might follow in the near future.

The right decision this week -- and next week, and the next week -- is vital not just to his racing career, but for his life.

It's good that Earnhardt is listening to doctors, even when their news is troubling to hear and their instructions are tough to swallow.

This isn't the first time Earnhardt has been sidelined because of concussion-like symptoms and that makes the current situation even more significant.

In 2012, Earnhardt missed races in Charlotte and Kansas because of a concussion likely suffered in a hard crash during a test at Kansas Speedway. This time, he's not even sure where exactly he may have been injured. He crashed hard at both Michigan and Daytona in the past month.

This past week Earnhardt thought he was fighting a severe sinus infection, but returned to the doctors when medicine seemed ineffective.

"When that didn't help, I decided to dig a little deeper," Earnhardt said. "Because of my symptoms and my history with concussions, and after my recent wrecks at Michigan and Daytona, I reached out and met with a neurological specialist. After further evaluation, they felt it was best for me to sit out."

WATCH: Smith, who filled in for Junior in 2012, weighs in on news

And with the new "waiver" rules, Earnhardt potentially could miss races and still be eligible for the 16-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup playoffs. He's currently 13th in points.

Racing is and has always been such an important, defining part of Earnhardt's life.

But, it is not his life.

So again, he is serving as an inspiring and fabulous example in times of hardship -- going back to the admirable way he handled his seven-time champion father's death. Not only did he somehow make everyone else feel better then, he had the gumption to get back behind the wheel and continue winning NASCAR's biggest races and the sport's heart.

I've known Earnhardt since his very first entrance in NASCAR's big leagues -- from the bleached-blond hair days. And I remember talking to his father about him often.

Of course, today, people always ask me about Earnhardt when they find out I report on NASCAR. And the truth is, I have always found him to be someone who speaks from the heart. He seems to find it quite amazing himself, the influence he wields and the people drawn to his every move. He is authentic and modest and seems to be as happy as he's ever been.

FULL STORY: Timeline of Junior's injuries

So many stories in sports are about an athlete who has fallen from grace or made bad choices.

This story is about a hugely popular superstar smart enough to heal up properly. The hard decision is absolutely the right decision. It is impressive and important. And we all wish him well.

"It takes a lot to come out and address some of the health concerns that he had," Duchardt said. "I really commend him for that. The whole time it's not about who are we going to get to back fill, what we are going to do when he does come back it's all about him getting better on a timeline that is satisfied to him. Not anything to do with the Chase, not anything to do with points or anything like that.

"Our team supports him 100 percent. We have a relationship that goes beyond driver. That is something that is more important than anything."

SECRET TO JIMMIE'S POLE? A 32-MILE BIKE RIDE WITH KENSETH

RELATED: Johnson earns first Coors Light Pole at Loudon

Jimmie Johnson 's No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet was garbage on his final run in the opening Sprint Cup Series practice of the weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Go ahead and ask him, he'll tell you.

"The car was half a second faster on scuffed tires than it was when we put the stickers on to go at the end and I couldn't even stay on the racing line," Johnson said Friday at the "Magic Mile," site of Sunday's New Hampshire 301 (1:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). "So, something really weird went on."

The six-time series champion was 15th in the opening practice, his 132.135 mph well off the pace set by practice leader Martin Truex Jr. 's 133.562 mph.

Johnson then went out later in the afternoon and earned his first Coors Light Pole Award of the season and his first at Loudon -- in his 29th attempt.

Sure, you could point to the changes made by crew chief Chad Knaus (Johnson indicated it was mostly an issue with the set of tires he was using), but a grueling-yet-scenic bike ride he took with pal, fellow title contender and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Matt Kenseth in between practice and qualifying certainly didn't hurt.

"With experience, I try to just wash it away and start over. I hopped on my bike; Kenseth and I went for a 32-mile bike ride and just cleared our brains," Johnson said. "I came back, clean sheet of paper and tried to walk to the race car as if it was my first time in the car and didn't have any baggage that I carried with me. 

"I think experience has helped me get to that spot. Younger years, I certainly worried about things and over sensitive and over thinking a lot of what goes on. I think experience helps in these situations. Fortunately, the car was so different that one run that something was just flat-out wrong. It wasn't even the race car that I drove 10 laps prior to. Something was off."

The bike ride worked oppositely for Kenseth, who placed 10th in practice but will line up mid-pack after qualifying 18th.

DILLON ON BOWMAN: 'HE WRECKED ME ON PURPOSE'

RELATED: Best at-track photos Saturday at New Hampshire

LOUDON, N.H. -- Alex Bowman gained a lot of new fans this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway -- but he may have earned an on-track enemy, as well.

Bowman, the 23-year-old tapped to replace Dale Earnhardt Jr. (concussion-like symptoms) in the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series New Hampshire 301 (1:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), got into an on-track incident with full-time XFINITY Series driver Ty Dillon shortly before the midway point in Saturday's NASCAR XFINITY Series Auto Lotto 200 race.

The No. 88 JR Motorsports driver appeared to clip the right rear of Dillon's No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet on the straightaway, sending the title hopeful into the outside wall and out of race contention.

Bowman indicated over his team radio that it was not intentional and that his Camaro was battling tight handling, but Dillon wasn't buying it.

"Just watching the replay, he wrecked me on purpose," Dillon said in the garage as his No. 3 crew worked to repair his ride. " ... You can ask everybody that was around the 88 today. I'm sure after the race they'll say that he was the toughest one to pass for whatever reason.

" ... He felt like he needed to turn me down the straightaway. Obviously I'm not very happy. I'll just try and be the cooler head right now because I'm glad he's still out there on the track and not here (in the garage) with me."

Bowman maintained after the race that while he "wasn't really thrilled with how (Dillon) drove (him) prior to the wreck" that "it wasn't, by any means, intentional," but he'll probably wait a bit to offer a face-to-face apology to Dillon.

"I'll talk to him, probably let him cool down a little bit," said Bowman, set for his first Sprint Cup Series start of the season on Sunday. "Kid tried to wreck me like four times but he couldn't get it done after that. Probably let him calm down without it turning into just him yelling at me. That's probably what he's going to do. That's probably what I'd do, too. I'd be upset, too. He has every right to be upset.

" ... He'll get over it someday."

Dillon was able to get back out on the track after the midway mark, but came out more than 50 laps off the pace. He finished 33rd.

The championship hopeful came into the race 19 points behind leader Daniel Suarez, in third place. That gap widened to 48 points, just six ahead of second-place finisher Erik Jones .

"Pretty upset right now. It's not how you race," Dillon said. "You don't turn me when we're going down the straightaway. I don't know what to say, because I don't have anything good to say, except for I'm glad he's not around right now.

"Seemed like (his car) turned pretty good down the straightaway when I was passed him, so maybe he needs to figure out what loose and tight mean. Maybe I can explain it to him."

KYLE BUSCH DOMINATES NEW HAMPSHIRE TO SNAG SIXTH WIN OF 2016

LOUDON, N.H. -- Another NASCAR XFINITY Series race, another set of milestones for Kyle Busch.

Leading 190 of 200 laps in Saturday's AutoLotto 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Busch held off Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Erik Jones in the closing laps to claim his 82nd career victory, extending his own series record.

In the process, Busch raised his total of XFINITY laps led to 17,064, once again extending his own record. Busch won for the fifth time in 11 races at the Magic Mile and the sixth time in 10 starts this season.

"I guess they're big numbers," said Busch, who ran the entire race on one set of left-side tires and arrived at the finish line 1.499 seconds ahead of Jones, who had taken four tires on his final pit stop under caution on Lap 178. "I really don't know what big numbers are, and records are made to be broken.

"There may be somebody like me that comes along down the road that does the same thing that I've been fortunate enough to do … Running in this series is something fun for me to do, cool for me to do, and it also helps me out and gets me a little more experience."

Brad Keselowski ran third but didn't have an answer for the top two JGR cars. Daniel Suarez came home fourth, followed by Austin Dillon .

"We had a decent day," Keselowski said. "A little better than where we have been, which was something to be proud of, but of course we want to get to Victory Lane with the (No. 22 Team Penske) Ford. We aren't quite there, but we'll keep pushing.

"That was a step in the right direction overall for sure."

Busch may have been dominant up front, but there were compelling subplots behind him, the most noteworthy between Ty Dillon and Alex Bowman .

Bowman, who will sub for ailing Dale Earnhardt Jr. in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, turned left into Dillon's No. 3 Chevrolet off Turn 2 on Lap 76, sending Dillon's car into the outside wall.

Dillon was convinced Bowman wrecked him on purpose. Bowman asserted his car was forced wide, and the contact was unintentional. Dillon returned to action 55 laps down after repairs in the garage and twice tried to impede Bowman's progress on the track.

"He tried to wreck me about four times after (the accident)," Bowman said after the race. "I don't blame him for being upset. He has every right to be upset…

"He drove me way up the race track (right before the contact). He obviously got tight underneath me. I had a ton of wheel in it, and it finally caught. I barely came off the wall. You come off the wall six inches and you tag somebody in the right rear. I hate that for the 3 car, but I definitely didn't do it intentionally. He can think what he wants."

Bowman was able to continue despite damage to the left front of his No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet and posted an eighth-place finish. Dillon, on the other hand, was scored 33rd and held third place in the XFINITY standings but fell to 48 points behind Suarez, who also expanded his series lead to 15 points over second-place Elliott Sadler , who ran 10th on Saturday.

CHASE ELLIOTT TOPS FINAL NEW HAMPSHIRE PRACTICE

Rookie Chase Elliott zipped to the top spot in final NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Elliott guided the Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet to a best lap of 131.347 mph in the 55-minute final prep session for Sunday's New Hampshire 301 (1:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The 20-year-old driver will be making his first Sprint Cup start Sunday on the 1.058-mile track.

Denny Hamlin , a two-time New Hampshire winner, turned the second-fastest lap at 131.302 mph in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 Toyota. He was just ahead of JGR teammate Matt Kenseth , another two-time winner in the Granite State who clocked the third-best lap at 131.044 mph in the No. 20 Toyota.

Kevin Harvick , the top points-earner in the Sprint Cup Series this season, was fourth-fastest in final practice at 130.941 mph in the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Chevy. Defending race winner Kyle Busch landed the fifth-fastest lap in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota at 130.891 mph.

Jimmie Johnson , who will start first in Sunday's 301-lapper after securing the Coors Light Pole Award in Friday qualifying, was seventh-fastest in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet.

Alex Bowman , the replacement driver this weekend for Dale Earnhardt Jr. as he recovers from concussion-like symptoms, registered the 22nd-fastest lap in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet.

Sunday's event, the first of two New Hampshire stops for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this season, is the 19th of 36 points-paying races this year.

Edwards edges ahead in second practice | Results

It was a Joe Gibbs Racing parade at the top of the board with the race team taking the top three spots in the first of two Saturday practices for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Carl Edwards (No. 19 Toyota) paced the 55-minute session with a fast lap of 131.456 mph, with his JGR teammates Denny Hamlin (131.284 mph, No. 11 Toyota) and Matt Kenseth (131.193 mph, No. 20 Toyota) taking second and third in the session, respectively. 

Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet) and Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender  Chase Elliott (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) completed the top five with fast laps of 130.914 mph and 130.855 mph, respectively.

Defending race winner Kyle Busch (No. 18 Toyota) made it four-for-four for JGR cars in the top 10 as he posted the seventh-fastest lap. 

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) came in 14th in the session a day after scoring his first Coors Light Pole Award of 2016.

Alex Bowman , who is filling in for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet this weekend, placed 24th. Earnhardt is out for Sunday's New Hampshire 301 (1:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) with concussion-like symptoms. 

JIMMIE JOHNSON SCORES POLE AT NEW HAMPSHIRE

LOUDON, N.H. -- After one of the roughest stretches in his career, Jimmie Johnson got a welcome boost on Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Saving his fastest lap for the third and final round of knockout qualifying, Johnson won the Coors Light Pole Award for Sunday's New Hampshire 301 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race (1:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN), covering the 1.058-mile distance in 28.430 seconds (133.971 mph).

The pole was the 50th won in a Chevrolet SS in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Johnson edged Kyle Busch (133.830 mph) for the top starting spot by .030 seconds, earning his first pole at the Magic Mile, his first of the 2016 season and the 35th of his career.

Busch, however, owned the fastest lap of the day, running 134.080 mph (28.407 seconds) to pace the second round, but Johnson was quickest when it counted most.

With only one top 10 in his last nine races, Johnson needed a catalyst, but his car was so off-kilter during a mock qualifying run during opening practice that he thought something had broken on the No. 48 Chevrolet.

While his team reset the car to the specifications in place when it unloaded, Johnson went on a 32-mile bike ride with fellow driver Matt Kenseth to clear his head.

When he returned for time trials, the car was better.

"We had a really weird set of tires or something odd go on on our mock run at the end of practice," Johnson said. "It felt like something was broken on the car. So to come back and have good speed in the car and advance, I knew after round two we would have a shot at the pole, because we were able to keep our lap count down and advance to the next round on our first lap in each session.

"And then put together a smooth lap. I felt like it could have been faster, but certainly a good smooth one, and it was enough."

And having speed in the car was a shot of adrenaline to a team that has been struggling.

"We've had a lot of tough races," Johnson acknowledged. "Qualifying has been so-so. I'm not the best at qualifying. I think the majority of that emotion was the fact that we actually got a pole.

"We don't have many. It's not our strong suit. Just a good day all-in-all, and certainly something this Lowe's team needed after the tough couple of months… Today's a big day for us."

Martin Truex Jr. will start third, after bumping his way into the final 12 .001 seconds over fellow Toyota driver Carl Edwards in the closing seconds of the 10-minute second round. Truex covered the distance in 28.675 seconds (132.827 mph) to knock Edwards out of the final round.

Truex then secured the third position on the grid with a lap at 133.371 mph.

"It's been a hectic day," Truex said. "It seems like we've been thrashing all day long. Everything is last-minute, last-second and just throwing stuff at it, but when it counts we keep hitting it.

"We were first in practice and third here. We barely made it through the second round and then went on to finish third. All in all, it was a good day. Just a lot of quick decisions by everyone."

Kurt Busch will start fourth, followed by Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano , who led the first round of time trials at 133.166 mph.

Chase Elliott , Kevin Harvick , Brad Keselowski and AJ Allmendinger claimed the seventh through 10th starting spots, respectively.

Substituting for Dale Earnhardt Jr. , who is sidelined with concussion-like symptoms, Alex Bowman earned the 20th starting position in the No. 88 Chevrolet. Though Earnhardt wasn't at New Hampshire, he nevertheless contributed to Johnson's pole-winning run.

"He did come here and test for us," said Johnson, who is driving a new chassis this week. "And he gave us the foundation for the way our cars unloaded today. So big thanks to the 88 team, Dale and (crew chief) Greg (Ives) and those guys for having a great test session and giving us an opportunity for the pole today."

IN GOING HOME AND GIVING BACK, KAHNE FINDS WORTHWHILE REWARDS

CLE ELUM, Wash. -- A vast backdrop of majestic Evergreens and bristling Aspen trees intersected a mostly cloudless blue sky detailed by towering mountains in the distance.

The pause-and-breathe-it-in scenery made it wonderfully easy to forget the daily hubbub of life. Just getting to the Suncadia Lodge in rural Cle Elum, Washington -- about an hour-and-a-half drive inland from Seattle -- felt like a great escape.

So much good -- hearts and intentions -- awaited.

It is a spectacularly scenic trip to NASCAR star Kasey Kahne's annual summer charity event, fittingly called "The Drive" in his rustic and picturesque home state. The great work done by Kahne and his philanthropic partner, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, in this fund-raising effort is as awe-inspiring as the location it is set in.

The local landscape, the massive effort behind the scenes and life-changing results of this annual benefit for Seattle Children's Hospital are spectacular in every sense.

"When I first decided to do a golf tournament I wanted it to be there because I know it's a big deal out there and a lot of work would go into it," said Kahne, who stayed an extra day to enjoy the perfect weather.

"I thought that would be a good place for it since I don't get to spend as much time out there anymore and try to raise money for the hospital and kids in need in that area."

The socializing, the auction and the golf tournament are certainly the marquee moments of the event, but just getting to the location is a drive to remember.

Kasey Kahne is a big Seahawks fan, and teaming up with Russell Wilson gives him added incentive to root for his home team.

Signs on the winding, elevation-rich Interstate 90 mark the national forest borders, designating them by Native American names such as Wenatchee and Snoqualmie.

There are few, if any, billboards along the highway, and unlike most of the rest of the nation, fast food drive-thrus don't line each exit. Instead, the roadway features inviting log cabin restaurants with understated signage, attracting you to places such as the Woodman Lodge for a steak dinner and some Washington wine.

Barren ski resorts and their empty lifts sit on the mountainside along the highway, awaiting a robust wintertime snow.

Visitors understandably take some pause at the unusual signage along the roadways, which includes an eclectic mix of "Volcano Evacuation Route" directions and "Please Don't Drug and Drive" reminders, the latter a nod to the state's 2012 legalization of marijuana.

Even way out of Seattle-proper, on the highways cutting through bustling new-money towns, the traffic is disproportionately more Subaru Outback than Mercedes-Benz coupe. There are plenty of 1990s-era pick-up trucks -- often with canoes in the tailgate -- driving alongside the long lines of logging big rigs.

This is, undeniably, a place far from NASCAR's norm.

The closest Sprint Cup Series race is nearly 800 miles south in Sonoma, California, where Kahne secured a hard-fought, ninth-place finish a day before this event in the first road-course race of the season.

The Pacific Northwest is Kahne's home, and while the Enumclaw native has had to travel East for career's sake, he has always made the Northwest a priority in his heart. And this huge annual fundraising effort by two of the area's favorite athletes has made more than a $1 million difference for children fighting cancer at Seattle Children's Hospital.

More specifically, their work has facilitated the beginnings of a major breakthrough in cancer treatment, and the feeling this weekend was of resounding hope.

"I remember being a kid and you go to do something and get the opportunity to meet someone, at a race or a football game," Kahne said. "You have a blast and it's one of the best days of your whole year.

"I try to give kids that opportunity at different levels throughout the year. That's why I started what I did. And to meet Russell and get to know him and work with him, that opportunity has been a really, really good thing for me."

***

The first night of The Drive is a laid-back affair -- an outside gathering with drinks and appetizers and good music. The cool, Pacific Northwest temperatures and late-night sunset are a perfect cap for any day. And the massive crowd attending the auction event -- nearly 500 people -- sported lots of smiles and handshakes.

And generous hearts.

The No. 5 Great Clips-sponsored Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet that Kahne would drive a week later in Daytona Beach sat outside -- the paint scheme designed by 8-year-old Noelia Gutierrez, a leukemia patient at Seattle Children's Hospital.

RELATED: The young artist behind Kahne's Daytona paint scheme

Kahne and Wilson mingled with everyone and took turns on stage encouraging high, higher and higher-yet bids on the items being auctioned. Kahne's Daytona 500 ticket package was a huge fan favorite.

Through all the interactions on stage, in the crowd, alongside family and amidst plenty of enthusiastic friends and fans, it was apparent that Wilson and Kahne's friendship is genuine. Their commitment to raising money for the children's hospital is obvious and infectious. It is also a true difference-maker.

Wilson, the 2012 NFL Rookie of the Year, led the Seattle Seahawks to their first Super Bowl win in 2013 and then guided the team to a second consecutive Super Bowl appearance a year later. At only 27 years old, the three-time NFL Pro Bowler is Seattle's bona fide sports leader -- beloved and admired in an area that appreciates the idea of doing good.

It was an easy decision for Wilson to work with Kahne, Seattle's favorite NASCAR star, in this highly motivated mission to help kids.

Kasey Kahne and Russell Wilson -- and Ciara, too -- have become friends while doing charitable work. (Photo via @Seahawks)

"We became friends right away,'' Wilson said. "I respect Kasey's professionalism, the way he goes about life. I thought, 'Let's see if we can do something fun together.' I love charity work and he does, too, so it was an organic fit from the get-go.

"We started off our first event, I remember we went to [Seahawks venue] CenturyLink Field and had a huge kind of bash, and tons of kids were out there behind the Hawks' Nest. We had a good day with that. Had this huge event.

"So we came out here and raised a ton of money, and from there just built our relationship."

Wilson was no stranger to NASCAR.

"My dad used to take me to the races," Wilson explained. "It was probably one of the first real big events I went to. My dad knew Joe Gibbs really well. Joe Gibbs coached my dad at one point (for the San Diego Chargers) and had him come out to a race. So that's how I kinda met Kasey. And I was able to watch him as an athlete do so well. I love great athletes and I love what he's about."

While the Monday night auction provided a wonderful opportunity to socialize and bid on rare opportunities -- autographed Kasey Kahne memorabilia or dinner with Wilson after a Seahawks home game -- the golf tournament on Tuesday featured the chance for The Drive's most ambitious participants to tee it up alongside celebrities.

Kahne's good friend and his race day spotter, Kevin Hamlin, a former popular and successful late-model driver in the Seattle area, drove around on a golf cart taking photos on the course.

Sports stars such as Seahawks receiver Jermaine Kearse, comedian George Lopez and movie star Chris Pratt, who grew up in nearby Lake Stevens, Washington, were among a long list of The Drive's generous golfers.

"Both my wife and I are from the Pacific Northwest so this is home for us," Pratt said. "We've been involved with Seattle Children's Hospital for the past couple years. And we're huge fans of Kasey.

"Any time you get a chance to do something like this, it's really a no-brainer, you know. Good people, good cause, a lot of fun."

This was the second year Lopez has participated in The Drive, and he also spoke of the can't-miss combination of spending time with one of his favorite NASCAR drivers and raising money for children.

"Absolutely, I want to help out Russell and Kasey," Lopez said. "You get asked to do a lot of these, but you know which ones are really the better ones.

"You get a guy like Russell and Kasey and they get together, it's a good thing."

***

On that opening night, as the auction bidding increased with frenzied excitement, a very happy gentleman stood near the stage, off to the side -- his jaw often dropping in amazement and gratitude.

Dr. Jeff Sperring had a smile on his face and warmth in his heart.

The CEO of Seattle Children's Hospital knows first-hand what Kahne and Wilson's efforts can produce -- not only hope, but healing.

In fact the hospital's "Strong Against Cancer" work has already made a potentially life-saving difference for a set of leukemia patients at the facility who had not responded to chemotherapy or even bone marrow transplants and really didn't have many options remaining.

An astounding 93 percent of 42 children treated at the hospital with a groundbreaking immunotherapy -- re-programming the body's T-cells -- responded with complete remission.

Sperring called it "just staggering results" and points to the specific work of Kahne and Wilson for raising money to help fund the clinical trial.

"This is huge for us," Sperring said. "We have amazing programs and we're so proud of the work we do. There are ways we can raise awareness for it, but honestly, nothing does it the same way as having two incredible people like Russell and Kasey be a part of it. Because of who they are and what they do, it gives so much more exposure to our kids and the great work that's going on here.

"When you get people that are interested, both of them are all about doing this the right way, not about promoting themselves. There's just a genuine passion from both of them and they want to do to the right thing for the kids. You know that because they take the time to learn. They want to know about the clinical trials. They want to meet the kids. So that's what I so appreciate about both of them -- they are absolutely so genuinely committed to this and doing it the right way. And that makes them even better spokespeople for what's going on because they are so educated about it and taken the time to meet the kids and know what's going on here."

Sperring has some background specifically in the way NASCAR drivers' great work can produce great results. He previously led the efforts at Riley Hospital for Children in Indiana and is fondly familiar with the sport's ability to make a difference.

Flex those muscles! (Photo via @GREATracing)

"For Kasey, what an incredible level of dedication,'' Sperring said. "He's in the middle of the race schedule and all over the country, and we don't have a race here, so again, you see he's doing this because it's in his heart, he feels like it's the right thing for the kids and he's helping kids in an area where he grew up.

"Like all of us, there's that connection. He wants to make a difference in an area he grew up. We all love that he's still part of our community here. It's an amazing thing he does. You can't overestimate the difference, the impact he has in doing that.

"Both Wilson and Kahne have made visiting patients at Seattle Children's Hospital a priority, not a photo-op. And their time there feels as important as the money they raise."

Both Kahne and Wilson agree.

"It's definitely a lasting memory,'' Wilson said. "I think the cool part, and Kasey can attest to this too, the cool part is knowing that you can affect somebody's life, and give back.

"Kasey's one of the best professional NASCAR drivers in the world and I get to play football for a living. The cool part is, people look up to you for whatever reason -- whether it's they like to win, or your personality, whatever it may be.

"But the truth is we look up to those kids. They're the real fighters -- their ability to stay so strong and overcome a situation. You go to children's hospitals and see these smiles on their faces even though they are going through the worst time they could imagine physically.

"So, that's what's inspiring for us. In terms of giving back, to whom much is given much is required. That's what this life is about: Serving, giving back and loving on people and putting smiles on their faces and trying to be encouraging for people to overcome situations."

And Kahne couldn’t agree more. Now a father to Tanner, born in October, he is even more adamant about wanting to make a difference in kids' lives.

"I've had a lot of strong feeling to help kids, not just cancer, but kids maybe not as fortunate as others," Kahne said. "It stuck with me, to try to give them an opportunity they aren't used to or put a smile on their face. Plus, having (my son) Tanner, now there are times I see different things and I think of Tanner.

"Sometimes, for whatever reason I meet these kids and it gives me those feelings and makes me more emotional; I sit there and think about it and really want to do something to help that kid or help him enjoy that day.

"When it does happen, it's a great feeling and it's hard to really leave."