Creed Honoring Longtime FOJ Ambassador At Dover
Jimmy McKeon's name will ride with Sheldon Creed this weekend at Dover Motor Speedway. (Haas Factory Team photo)
LANDENBERG, Pa. – Some things in motorsports are bigger than purely on-track results, and Sheldon Creed will tell one of those stories this weekend at Dover Motor Speedway.
Creed will carry a name with deep meaning on his No. 00 Haas Factory Team Ford Mustang during Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the ‘Monster Mile’, as he and his team honor Jimmy McKeon, a beloved brain tumor survivor and a lifelong advocate and ambassador for the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation.
McKeon’s name will ride on the passenger side name rail of the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation Ford in the BetRivers 200, as Creed chases his first Xfinity Series victory just an hour south of Landenberg, Pa., where McKeon lives and grew up.
McKeon has been part of the FOJ family for more than 20 years, dating back to the foundation’s earliest days. Diagnosed with a brain tumor as a child, McKeon has inspired thousands through his resilience, humility, and unwavering compassion, especially for children and families battling cancer.
“Jimmy is truly the sweetest soul on the planet,” said Denis Murphy, co-founder of the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation. “His strength is quiet, his heart is huge, and his ability to inspire is unmatched. He has walked this journey with us from the very beginning — and we wouldn’t be where we are today without him.”
McKeon’s story is intertwined with the FOJ story at its roots, considering that his 2004 diagnosis with medulloblastoma – a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer – came three months to the day after foundation namesake and inspiration Jaclyn Murphy’s own diagnosis with the same kind of cancer.
What followed was a journey that spawned both friendship and initiative, as the McKeon family and Murphy family grew close amid their shared battles. When FOJ was born a year later, Jimmy McKeon became a cornerstone, not just in beating his own cancer fight but as an ambassador for the foundation’s long-term mission to improve the lives of kids affected by cancer and their families.
Twenty years later, his efforts are being recognized on-track in a way that McKeon was “blown away” by when the car was unveiled to him via Zoom Wednesday night by Creed himself.
“What an awesome thing for Sheldon to do,” McKeon said after the unveil. “I’m so excited and hope it can bring some good luck to him Saturday. It would be incredible if he could get his first Xfinity Series win at Dover and I’ll be watching from home cheering him on!”
“It brings tears to my eyes, knowing everything that Jimmy has done to help lift FOJ and to be able to see him recognized like this,” added Nancy McKeon, Jimmy’s mother. “It’s such a powerful thing to do, to connect with families like ours and be able to give back, both spiritually and emotionally. What Sheldon is doing to raise awareness through FOJ means so much to those in the midst of the fight, and that’s what Jimmy has tried to do all these years since getting through his own battle. This is just amazing.”
Jimmy McKeon (right) with fellow cancer survivor Jaclyn Murphy. (Friends of Jaclyn Foundation photo)
Beyond surviving the unimaginable, Jimmy McKeon has become a driving force behind FOJ’s mission: helping children with pediatric brain tumors and other serious illnesses find love, hope, and connection through team adoptions.
Over the years, he has helped facilitate numerous adoptions, introduced new teams to the cause, raised critical funds, and championed the foundation's “Spreading NED” initiative — lifting those fighting for No Evidence of Disease.
McKeon’s name on Creed’s No. 00 Ford is more than a tribute; it’s a celebration of his advocacy, impact, and heart.
“Having Jimmy’s name on the car means we’re racing for more than just a win,” said Jaclyn Murphy. “We’re racing for hope, healing, and all the warriors who deserve to feel seen and supported.”
“Everyone gives me a lot of credit, but a lot of that goes to Rod [Wortham] and Denis for working on projects and things like this behind the scenes,” noted Creed. “It has always been an honor to carry FOJ on my race cars, but to do what we’re doing and being able to recognize Jimmy for everything that he’s done to help FOJ make a difference in the lives of so many children and their families, that’s the real reward above all else. What he’s gone through … to still want to help others like him is truly special.”
Since its founding in honor of Jaclyn Murphy, the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation has helped more than 1,300 children through its unique adoption and support programs — with McKeon at the heart of it all.
Broadcast coverage of Saturday’s BetRivers 200 from Dover Motor Speedway airs at 4:30 p.m. ET, live on The CW, the Performance Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.
About Friends of Jaclyn Foundation
The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for children battling pediatric brain tumors and other childhood cancers.
Through its unique team adoption and support programs, FOJ pairs children and families with sports teams and community groups, creating lifelong bonds of love, encouragement, and friendship.
For more information or to get involved, visit www.friendsofjaclyn.org.
