Kyle, Texas – When Driver David Lewien (Blanco, TX) and the Blue Moon Motorsports #3 Chevrolet Pro Truck rolled into Thunderhill Raceway (Kyle, TX) on Saturday, July 17, his attention was focused not just on winning the race, but he was also intent 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 Saturday 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 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 in 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, 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 by tightening up the lug nuts with Spotter Allen PK and making sure the coolant was topped off.

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 with Trophy Queen Tiffany Vogel. After all the introductions were made, Halen shouted the most famous words in motorsports over the track microphone – “Gentlemen, Start your Engines!” The crowd stood up to cheer on Halen as he took a few laps in the pace car to start the 40-lap feature event.

Halen eagerly watched the race from the pits as the Blue Moon Motorsports #3 Chevrolet Silverado started in the third position of the feature race. However, overheating problems once again plagued the team, but 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 to award his trophy to Halen. “Joey really made his day by giving Halen his trophy, and I think he probably slept with it,” joked Lewien.

Lewien added after the race, “We had an incredible time making Halen’s wish come true. 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.”

“The #3 truck was fast and consistent,” commented Lewien. “We’re going to make some adjustments this week to fix the overheating problem. The one thing that stands out for me about this race is that we came here today to touch the life of an incredible young man, and he ended up touching the lives of everyone involved. He’s fought so hard, and he’s had so many trials. And yet, he’s outgoing, cheerful, and so full of optimism.”

Lewien’s sponsors for the #3 Pro Truck helped in making this dream a reality: K&N Filters, Terry’s Body Shop (Taylor, TX), All Star Transmissions (Marble Falls,TX), The Gear Guy and Digital Expressions Embroidery (Spring Branch, TX), Johnson City Sign Shop and T&E Rainwater Services (Johnson City, TX).

The next race for the #3 and the Blue Moon Motorsports Team is July 24 at Houston Motorsports Park in Houston, Texas. Lewien is fourth in points going into next week’s race.

For more information on Blue Moon Motorsports, visit www.bluemoonmotorsports.org. An associated website for the team is www.racersagainstsubstanceabuse.com. Blue Moon Motorsports and R.A.S.A.R. can also be found on Facebook. Thunderhill Raceway is a 3/8-mile, D-shaped asphalt oval, ASA-sanctioned track that’s located at 24801 IH-35, on the access road just north of San Marcos (TX) near Yarrington Road (Exit #210). Information on Thunderhill Raceway may be found on the track’s website at www.thunderhillraceway.com.