From staff reports
Kyle —
From Staff Reports
KYLE — When David Lewien and his Blue Moon Motorsports No. 3 Chevrolet Pro Truck recently rolled into Thunderhill Raceway, his attention wasn’t only focused on winning the race, but also on making a young boy’s wish come true.
Lewien and the Blue Moon Motorsports Team, along with their affiliate TBS Racing, were on a mission to make it a day to remember for Halen Alexander.
Halen is a seven-year-old boy from Utah that was born with a congenital heart defect. He has survived multiple open heart surgeries in his young life and has defied the odds to reach the age of seven.
As an outgoing, exuberant young man, Halen had expressed to his mother, Valarie Von Germeten, that he would love to be a part of a racing team. His mother contacted Lewien, and the ball was set into motion to make his dream come true.
With the help of Thunderhill Raceway Owner Mary Ann Naumann and several staff members (Debbie Williams, Becky Jeffcoat, Tiffany Vogel, Bobby Chaffee and Rodney Rodriguez), along with drivers and crews from both race teams, Lewien made sure that Halen was poised to have a day he would never forget.
Upon arrival at the track, Halen and his older brother Eli were given Blue Moon Motorsports Team t-shirts and autographed hats. Then Halen went to work as a team pit crew member, tightening up lug nuts with spotter Allen PK and topping off the coolent.
When it was finally time for racing, all of the Pro Trucks lined up on the front straightaway. During the driver introductions, Halen went out on the track to take pictures with each of the drivers as they were introduced.
After all the introductions were made, Halen shouted the most famous words in motorsports over the track microphone — “Gentlemen, start your engines!”
As the engines roared, the fans in the grandstands stood up to cheer on Halen as he rode in the pace car for a few laps to start the 40-lap feature event.
Halen eagerly watched the race from the pits as the Blue Moon Motorsports No. 3 Chevrolet Silverado started in the third position of the feature race.
However, overheating problems once again plagued the team, and the quick thinking of Terry Tschoerner and Crew Chief Aaron Brungot helped Lewien manage to salvage a sixth-place finish.
Earlier in the evening, Joey Tschoerner of TBS Racing had won his feature race in the Thunder Stock class, and he decided awarded his trophy to Halen.
“Joey really made his day by giving Halen his trophy,” Lewien said, “and I think he probably slept with it.”
“We had an incredible time making Halen’s wish come true,” Lewien continued. “With all the help we had from the track and our affiliate TBS Racing, I think we were able to give him some memories that will last a lifetime. We came here today to touch the life of an incredible young man, and instead he ended up touching our lives. He’s fought so hard, and he’s already had so many trials to overcome. And yet, he’s outgoing, cheerful and so full of optimism.”
