Locations:
June 19, 2026/Patient Stories

Dad Back to Racing After Kidney Transplant, Battle with Cancer

A race car driver reflects on his battle with kidney failure and cancer.

Media Contact

Cleveland Clinic News Service | 216.444.0141

We’re available to shoot custom interviews & b-roll for media outlets upon request.

Media Downloads

CCNS health and medical content is consumer-friendly, professional broadcast quality (available in HD), and available to media outlets each day.

Jordan Bupp

CLICK HERE to download soundbites, b-roll, script and web article.

For download password, contact ccnewsservice@ccf.org.

CLEVELAND - As a racecar driver, Jordan Bupp knows the importance of staying laser focused, especially when pushing speeds of more than 185 miles per hour. 

“There has never been a more peaceful and calm place in the whole world than when I am strapped into a racecar, my helmet on. I am completely in control,” said Jordan.

But in 2013, he had to shift his attention from the track to his health. 

“I started feeling super nauseous and just really something wasn’t right,” he said

Jordan found out he was in renal failure and had to get a kidney transplant.

“That time in my life was extremely difficult because of my age, being so young. It was hard to relate with anybody. But more importantly to me, it made racing much more challenging,” he recalled.

Fortunately, there was someone on his care team who could relate.

“I met Jordan at the track with his father. They used to race quite a bit, and I raced at that time as well,” said Kevin Stadtlander, MD, interventional radiologist at Cleveland Clinic.

He made sure Jordan was still able to race, even after he developed lymphoma following his transplant.

“At that time, we had to place a port in the chest wall, and so we were very mindful of where the race car belts and safety harnesses would go,” said Dr. Stadtlander.

The now 38-year-old is cancer-free, happily married, and a proud father of two. 

“Being a dad is probably one of the most amazing things I have done with my life,” he said with a smile.

Latest from the Newsroom

Ali Aminian, M.D., performing bariatric surgery.

Cleveland Clinic Study Finds Bariatric Surgery Effective for Substantial Weight Loss After GLP-1 Intolerance or Limited Weight Loss

Eric Boose, M.D., uses AI software to document a patient appointment.

Newsweek Ranks Cleveland Clinic Among World's Best Smart Hospitals

Graphic representing cardiomyopathy and DNA

Cleveland Clinic-led Study Establishes Major Genetic Contributor to Heart Failure in People of African Ancestry

Dr Fujiki performing surgery

Cleveland Clinic First in Ohio to Perform Abdominal Tumor Removal Using Highly Specialized Surgical Technique

UFC, Cleveland Clinic logos

UFC®, Cleveland Clinic Renew Longstanding Partnership

Panelists at Cleveland Clinic's London Innovation Summit

Cleveland Clinic Holds Second Annual London Innovation Summit

Exterior view of Cleveland Clinic's Main Campus

Newsweek Ranks Cleveland Clinic One of World’s Top Hospitals for Specialized Care

Rami Hazzi, M.D.

Rami Hazzi, M.D., Named New Leader of Cleveland Clinic Euclid Hospital