Man with Down syndrome fulfills dream of starting Phoenix NASCAR race
A 39-year-old NASCAR super fan fulfilled a longtime dream at the Phoenix Raceway on Saturday by starting the Arizona Lottery 100.
Michael Corporon has loved NASCAR since he was a kid when his father started taking him to races.
"I love it, I like the noise and everything else," he told The Arizona Republic at the track's midway shortly after the race began.
Corporon, who has Down syndrome, has worked at VALLEYLIFE for 17 years. The organization, one of a slew of nonprofits partnered with the Arizona Lottery, provides work and skills training to people with disabilities.
He's been paired with VALLEYLIFE job coach Ron DiBiasio, whom he described as his "best friend forever," since July 2004. DiBiasio said Corporon has "blossomed" over the years through his involvement in the organization.
"I'm a new me now," Corporon agreed.
DiBiasio said Corporon's pride in the custodial work he does at the Arizona Lottery headquarters in Phoenix is evident.
"He just uplifts customers and everybody else," DiBiasio said. "He doesn't hold back. He's very friendly and outgoing all the time. He doesn't have bad days — he's always happy and smiling."
Saturday marked one of Corporon's best days yet as he crossed off his bucket list goal of starting a NASCAR race, which he said he's wanted to do for "a long time."
"Mike's going to be talking about this for centuries," DiBiasio said, adding that he was in "seventh heaven" watching Corporon's dream come true.
Corporon also had the added perk of meeting Jeff Gordon, a retired NASCAR driver whom he described as his "hero."
John Gilliland, a spokesperson for the Arizona Lottery, said Corporon has been fully committed to preparing for his big moment ever since he was approached with the opportunity about two weeks ago.
"You could be in lottery headquarters working and all of a sudden you'll hear, 'Drivers, start your engines!' and there's Mikey, he's practicing," he said. "It's great."
Gilliland said Corporon has been a beloved fixture at the Arizona Lottery for years, noting that he's only missed a week of work in the last 17 years.
He said Corporon has "exceeded any and all expectations," proving that people with disabilities can "do everything anyone else can do."
"We're so happy he wanted to be a part of this and that we could make this opportunity possible," he said. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing for anyone, so for Mikey to get it, it's just that much sweeter."
Corporon, a self-described "people person," said he's grateful for the growth he's experienced from his involvement with VALLEYLIFE and the Arizona Lottery.
"The lottery supports me and my family and everybody else," Corporon said. "(Everyone) cares about me and loves me so much."
Arizona Lottery gave more than $225 million to communities across the state in the fiscal year 2020, according to its website. Gilliland said the organization "exists to do good in our community," as shown by Corporon and others who benefit from its funding, he said.
"These programs and services are vital to people like Mikey, to so many other people, to our environment, to our economy, to higher education," he said. "These things benefit so many people that don't even realize that lottery dollars are helping them improve themselves and helping them advance their life. It makes us so proud and happy to be a part of that."
Reach the reporter at bfrank@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8529. Follow her on Twitter @brieannafrank.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral today.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Man with Down syndrome fulfills dream by starting Phoenix NASCAR race
