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At the start of January, word spread that seasoned NASCAR journalist Holly Cain was facing another tough race against cancer. Holly, ever the fighter, openly shared her surgery plans set for January 8, 2024. The outpouring of support from the NASCAR family and media was a sight to behold, with her social media lighting up with encouraging words, well-wishes for her surgery, and backing for her forthcoming chemo and radiation battles.

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It, however, looks like Holly could use more than just words of encouragement at this bend in the road. Doug Rice took to Twitter, calling on folks to lend a hand and be part of her support pit crew on this challenging journey.

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Doug Rice’s call to action for the NASCAR community to support Holly Cain in her fight against cancer

Holly Cain, a popular face in the world of NASCAR, has never shied away from sharing about her battle against breast cancer since July 2014. Beyond her fight, she’s taken to public platforms, advocating for cancer research and sharing her story to inspire others. Her dedication to motorsports journalism remains unshaken, even landing her the NMPA’s Spirit Award in 2015 for her indomitable spirit. As the first solo female recipient of the prestigious Russo Award, Cain’s contributions to motorsports journalism are unparalleled. Yet, today, she finds herself in need of the very community she’s served.

Doug Rice’s heartfelt plea on social media urges the NASCAR family to rally behind Cain as she faces another daunting round of cancer. His message reads, “You know that @_HollyCain has been longtime mainstay in the racing media world. She is also a great friend to so many and respected by all who know her. She is battling cancer again & could use our help, please consider donating to the hego fund page.”

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In a blog post accompanying his tweet, Rice shared, “Holly is not one to ask for help in any way, and most of her friends are unaware how serious her medical condition has become. So, I am stepping in with the gracious support of the National Motorsports Press Association to create this opportunity for others to help. […] She will soon run out of the financial resources she needs to wage this battle, with an endless stream of new bills to come. Like last time, the challenge of how to pay the next bill has become a daily worry for her. The 2024 motorsports season begins soon and it will be challenging for Holly in the early going covering the sport that has been her lifeblood for decades.”

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Rice is at the helm of this fundraising drive, setting an initial target of $50,000, though the reality is her expenses will soon outstrip that figure. 

At this moment, the NASCAR community has a chance to give back to one of its own, to support Holly Cain in her time of need, ensuring she can focus on her health without the added weight of financial strain.

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NASCAR reporter’s second battle with cancer 

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Last year’s playoffs year started on a somber note with the news of Martin Truex Jr‘s ex-girlfriend passing away after a long fight with cancer, a battle she thought she had won until it came back with a vengeance. Holly Cain again revealed that she finds herself in a similar boat. She recently shared an update on Twitter, laying it out plain and simple: “So. … tomorrow, I have cancer surgery with daily chemo and radiation to follow in the coming weeks. I am heartbroken but resolute. I will do my best to stay hopeful and courageous fighting this again – and plan to work as I can. Prayers and good vibes appreciated. Peace! ✌️💪”

Back in 2019, Cain was upfront about her Stage 3 cancer battle and testing positive for HER2. Her first skirmish in 2014–15 was no walk in the park: she underwent a double mastectomy in her first dance with surgery, followed by a hysterectomy. The aftermath saw her facing a relentless two-month stretch of daily radiation.

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On top of that, she endured chemo sessions three times a week, each visit to the Watson Clinic Cancer & Research Center bringing a fresh round of IVs to replenish her body’s vital nutrients. Now, as Holly Cain gears up for another bout of surgery and chemo, the NASCAR world, led by her close pal Doug Rice, is banding together to support her through this storm.

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Written by

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Neha Dwivedi

1,262 Articles

​​Neha Dwivedi is a NASCAR Writer at EssentiallySports. As a journalist, she religiously believes in the power of research, which allows her readers to dive deep into her stories and experience the detailed nuances of the sport like never before. Being proficient with Core Sport and Live Event Coverage, she has written multiple copies on the top entities of Stock Car Racing, like Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, and Tony Stewart. Even before Neha entered the world of Sports Journalism, she was a writer for the longest time. This helped her master the art of storytelling, which now allows her to connect with not only her readers but also drivers like Thad Moffitt, who have shown appreciation for her work. While she enjoys bringing the BTS scoops of NASCAR to the forefront, her favorite style of coverage has to be where she has the opportunity to explore some of the sports' most talked about topics like penalties, innovation, and safety.

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Jayant Chhabra

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