Jeff Gordon Fulfills 87-Year-Old NASCAR Fan's Ultimate Dream
Barbara Yocum would watch NASCAR religiously with husband before he died.
March 7, 2014 — -- Barbara Yocum, 87, would watch NASCAR religiously with her husband before he died almost a decade ago.
"There was always someone there with me when I watched the races, but now I'm alone," she told ABC News. "A lot of people don't know about Nascar, so I watch it alone."
When Yocum's husband was alive, their favorite driver was Jeff Gordon. The California resident calls him "Jeffie." He's still her favorite.
Her story caught the attention of Wish of a Lifetime, a nonprofit organization that grants wishes to senior citizens, and Brookdale Senior Living. Can you guess what hers was?
On Wednesday at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, Yocum got a chance to meet and talk with Gordon.
"I'm fine today, yesterday I wasn't so good, I was very nervous! I'm still nervous," she said. "I didn't just get 10 seconds. I got to see him for 10 minutes. I was proud that he took time out to make my wish come true."
Yocum said she got the VIP treatment and that she was escorted from a crowd of fans to where Gordon was.
"I got to see him in private," she bragged. "They even took a picture with Jeffie and me and my son, because my son drove me there."
She added that her son is a Kevin Harvick fan, and was very excited for her.
After Yocum told Gordon all she knew about the legendary driver, he said, "You know more about me than I do!"
"He's just as cute as a bug," she gushed. "I'm 87 and I keep very busy here where I live. I call bingo and do a lot of things, I try and stay young that way."
What's next for this amazing woman?
"I like Matthew McConaughey," she said. "I like him now."
