If you're one of Robby Gordon's fans growing weary of the public flogging he takes on occasion, you may be in the wrong place. I've taken my fair share of shots at the Sprint Cup driver, by the same token I've praised his off road racing efforts and his occasional "do-good" projects.

This is one of the later times.

Despite the inglorious ending Robby suffered in the Daytona 500 - thanks in no small part to a "Raging Bull" and some extra "Amped Energy" - the former open wheeler current Sprint Cup owner/driver had much to be proud of this past weekend.

Jennifer Lee, her better half Steve and their 7 year old son Justin made their third trip to the 500 this year from their New Milford, Connecticut home spending Speedweeks in their motorhome.

Jennifer and Justin were standing by the infield stage Sunday and Justin stuck out his hand in hopes of landing high-fives from the procession of Sprint Cup drivers during pre-race festivities.

One after another, the Sprint Cup drivers slapped hands with the kids, but one driver, Robby Gordon of the #7 Jim Beam Toyota, missed Justin's hand as he made his way across the stage.

"Hey, you've got to come back!" Justin's mother, Jennifer, urged Gordon as he continued down the line. "It's his birthday!"

And, just like that, Justin Lee got the birthday present of the year and the story of a lifetime. Gordon immediately spun around and walked toward Justin.

"It's your birthday today?" Gordon asked the first-grader from Northville Elementary School.

As soon as Justin nodded, Gordon gave him a high-five and lifted him over the security tape.

"Robby told us to meet him at his car and he took off with our son, my husband and I just looked at each other: 'Did Robby Gordon just take our son?' It was unbelievable."

Gordon gave the birthday boy a ride around Daytona's famed 2 1/2 mile oval in a Corvette before the race and had his picture taken with some of the drivers, including his favorite Tony Stewart.

"It was amazing. I was surprised," Justin said. "It was a lot of fun."

"It was a great experience for all of us," Mom Jennifer said.

A vast understatement on the part of Mom and Justin.

This is just one example, of many that go untold each year, why NASCAR drivers connect so closely to fans of the sport of all ages. They consistently go far above the call of duty connecting to individual fans as in this case and offering full support in time spent and money donated to the various charities associated with NASCAR.

A hardy and well deserved "ATTA Boy" to Robby from the Half-Vast Staff™ of Full Throttle.

P.S. Justin, is Tony Stewart still your favorite driver? I'm betting a co-favorite has entered to picture.