A new Robby fan this weekend...

New Milford boy gets autographs, Corvette ride at Daytona 500 Like all the other kids standing by the infield stage Sunday, 7-year-old Justin Lee of New Milford stuck out his hand in hopes of landing high-fives from the procession of Sprint Cup drivers at the Daytona 500.

One after another, the Sprint Cup drivers slapped hands with the kids, taking special care not to step on any of the eyeballs popping out by the dozens.

But one driver, Robby Gordon of the No. 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," Jennifer Lee said Monday by cell phone. "My husband (Steve) and I just looked at each other: 'Did Robby Gordon just take our son?' It was unbelievable."

If it was unbelievable for them, just imagine how it felt for Justin.

The brown-haired boy rode around Daytona's world-famous racetrack in a Corvette before the race. He had his picture taken with some of the drivers. He scored autographs from many of the Sprint Cup stars, including Gordon and Tony Stewart, his favorite driver.

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

And how.

"It was a great experience for all of us," Jennifer Lee said. "This is the third year my husband, Justin and I have come down to Daytona to see the race. We have a big motor home and we come down for the week."

Justin also has a 19-year-old sister, Amanda Manwaring, who attends Western Connecticut State University.

Although Amanda couldn't make it down to Daytona, Justin will have plenty to show her when he gets home.

From NewsTimes.com

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mike on February 17, 2009 at 10:54am
my mom went to visit the race shops and she called me while she was there and i told her to go find robbys shop. when she got there robby was outside and said if she would hang out for a bit he would talk to them when he was done. when he was done he came over to talk to them and she asked if they had tours of the shop and he gave them a personal tour of his shop...
Permalink Reply by TexasKevin on February 17, 2009 at 11:23am
Typical Robby. Just a great guy.
I've seen several times where he does something special like that. Taking time for kids, hopping over the counter to visit with someone who is in a wheelchair.

He is one of those athletes that you can feel good having your kids look up to as an example.
Permalink Reply by brian campbell on February 17, 2009 at 12:14pm
A true gentleman at least off the track were it really counts.when i meet Robby he was really down to earth and made time for a picture.OTHER DRIVERS TAKE NOTE.you are where you are because of your fans not your driving.i am looking at you DALE JR.
Permalink Reply by Texas SpeedDiva on February 17, 2009 at 1:34pm
Thanks for posting. This is what we know about Robby that most of the world doesn't or even care to try to see. He's a driver who does have "the stuff inside"
Permalink Reply by joseph on February 17, 2009 at 3:13pm
really very cool
Permalink Reply by Jay on February 17, 2009 at 3:59pm
Nice job, Robby. Classy!
Permalink Reply by Jaci on February 17, 2009 at 8:20pm
Robby is a real class act to take time to make a fan's day.
Permalink Reply by RobbySmokeFan on February 17, 2009 at 8:29pm
What a sweet story! Just goes to show what Robby will do for fans.How many other drivers would? Not to mention the kid has good taste in drivers. *wink wink*
Permalink Reply by Christy on February 17, 2009 at 9:46pm
My daughter loves Robby and wants a hat like daddy and shirt like mommy. She has Jr sippy cups, I bought before I knew that National Guard sponsored him. She even says that's Robby's # instead of "7"
Permalink Reply by Mike/WC77 on February 17, 2009 at 9:53pm
RG does offer some kiddie merch, but JB can't market anything to minors. There may be a similar issue with Monster. Menards doesn't really need to mkt to kids,& so on. So, it comes down to Robby to foot his own merch for the kiddies. Thats why it's so few,& far between.
Permalink Reply by JoCo on February 18, 2009 at 2:00am
Hadn't thought about that really...too bad he doesn't do like they do with Kasey Kahne gear where for the kiddie gear they exchange the Budweiser logo with the Double-K/checkered flag Kahne logo
Permalink Reply by roush699 on February 22, 2009 at 11:02am
What about some Monster stuff for kids? Surely they would glom onto that.

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