Eddie Vedder was, as he put it, Tony Stewart’s “surprise” at the NASCAR Sprint Series Awards in Las Vegas, honoring the driver who recently announced his retirement. 

Vedder and Stewart’s lives crossed when the NASCAR driver reached out to Vedder to donate to his EB Research Partnership, which the Pearl Jam frontman runs with wife Jill to cure Epidermolysis Bullosa, a skin disorder that affects children. After writing a check for “thousands of dollars,” Stewart also expressed how connected he is to Pearl Jam’s music.

“I was humbled to hear [Stewart] say how much our music meant to him,” Vedder said. “It got him through some rough, tough and difficult times, and I can relate.” 

After praising Stewart in his introduction, Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendricks took the stage to announce that NASCAR will make a $1.8 million donation on behalf of Stewart to Vedder’s EB Research Partnership. A visibly emotional Vedder walked to the mic and joked, “Are we on TV? That’s un-fucking-believable.” 

Watch below.