MONROE — Kelton Little knows how to pick a winner.
Standing on Evergreen Speedway’s frontstretch during the autograph session before Saturday’s races, the 11-year-old from Everett didn’t hesitate when asked who would win the mini-stock division feature race.
“Him, the red 01 car” Kelton said, pointing to former champion Mark Weedin, who was standing next to his car.
Kelton, who is battling cancer, was a guest of the speedway’s mini-stock division on Saturday. He was presented with a trophy and an autographed driver’s helmet, and Kelton also took a ride in the pace car.
After Weedin made good on his prediction, Kelton also got to climb to the top step of victory stage with the four-time winner.
“Kelton, you’re awesome,” Weedin said, holding his winner’s trophy. “This one is for you.”
When he was 10, Kelton noticed a lump on the left side of his jaw. He was diagnosed with adenoma carcinoma of his parotid salivary gland — a rare cancer for someone so young.
After surgery to remove the lump and radiation treatments, Kelton’s follow-up tests were cancer-free until last February, when spots were noticed on his lungs.
It was determined that the cancer — stage 4 metastatic non-small cell lung cancer — had moved into his lungs, kidneys and his left leg.
Kelton walked around during the frontstretch autograph session with a group of friends, collecting driver cards and other memorabilia.
Watching him were parents Richard and Alanna Little. Richard Little held the autographed helmet and Alanna held Kelton’s trophy.
Kelton’s mother and father said they have decided not to think of Kelton’s treatment in terms of a prognosis or percentages, but instead to focus on a positive outcome.
“Our whole thing is to go out and fight every day,” Alanna Little said. “We don’t have any other option.”
Kelton completed his latest round of chemotherapy just a few days before attending Saturday’s races at Evergreen Speedway. Alanna Little said he will undergo follow-up testing later this week.
Although the Littles have medical insurance, not all of Kelton’s treatment has been covered, leaving them with significant medical bills.
Richard Little is an independent contractor, the owner of Emerald Floor Coverings. Alanna Little is an assistant in a medical clinic. Both have taken significant amounts of time off from work to support Kelton’s treatments.
“Lots of time off work,” Alanna Little said.
A Website, www.keltonlittle.com, has been set up to give people a chance to learn more about Kelton, and make donations to help offset the cost of his treatment.
Kelton, who recently graduated from Horizon Elementary School, will start sixth grade at Olympic View Middle School later this year.
He became interested in NASCAR and auto racing as a child after watching the movie “Days of Thunder.” Alanna and Richard Little said that Kelton would ask to watch it over and over, and he could quote lines from the movie.
Kelton’s favorite NASCAR driver is Dale Earnhardt Jr., and he was sporting a No. 88 National Guard hat on Saturday.
Kelton was made an honorary member of the Washington National Guard earlier this year, adding a special connection to Earnhardt, who counts the National Guard as one of his primary sponsors.
Asked if Earnhardt would win Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Sonoma, Kelton once again didn’t hesitate: “Yes.”
When it was pointed out that Earnhardt had never won on a road course before, Kelton’s reply was just as quick: “He will now.”
An avid baseball fan, Kelton also had some ideas about how to fix the Seattle Mariners
His first suggestion was to bring back Lou Piniella as manager and — with some prompting from Alanna Little — Ken Griffey Jr. Getting rid of Jose Lopez and Richie Sexson were also high on his to-do list for the M’s.
How did Kelton think his changes would affect the Mariners’ play the rest of this year?
“It would get better,” he said.
Saturday night everyone who met Kelton Little came away with that same hope for his future.
He’s not the only one who knows how to pick a winner.
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