Make-A-Wish® ‘Wish Kid’ Austin to Race at NHRA Toyota Nationals in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS, NV – This weekend the 14th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will mark a momentous 
occasion, and not just for drivers competing in the second-to-last race of the 2014 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. It will also mark the date that a wish will come true for one remarkable young man.
Terry Chandler, the sponsor of the Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger Funny Car driven by Tommy Johnson Jr., along with Don Schumacher and his Don Schumacher Racing team, have partnered with the Nebraska chapter of Make-A-Wish to grant 17-year-old Austin Zimmerline’s one true wish: to be a race car driver and win a race for a team.
Austin, who resides in Louisville, Neb., qualified for a wish because he has Cerebellum Atrophy, a degenerative disease of the cerebellum, as well as Cerebral Palsy and Leukodystrophy. Despite the challenges that he has faced, Austin has thrived in his community. A local celebrity in Louisville, a town of about 1,000 people, Austin is an honorary member of the high school football team and volunteers as a clown at Shriners Hospital events in Omaha. He also enjoys playing the guitar.
Just after the third Pro Stock car qualifying session on Saturday and before the nitro cars begin their third qualifying session, Austin and his co-pilot Johnson will race in a two-seat dragster against DSR teammates and former world champions Antron Brown and co-pilot Jack Beckman. Austin will use a hand control to work the throttle thanks to Doug Foley, who is providing the pair of two-seat dragsters for the event, it won’t just be a ride-a-long; there is a real Wally trophy on the line that will be awarded at the top end.
The Make-A-Wish Funny Car team will be on site preparing their drivers and cheering them on during the one-run competition that will take place in front of thousands of NHRA fans as well as Austin’s friends and family.
“This year has meant so much to me, and spending time every weekend with all of the Make-A-Wish children and families at each race has just been a wonderful and overwhelming experience,” said Chandler. “Now I am so thrilled to be able to work with Don and DSR to help make Austin’s wish come true. This will be a very special day for us, and also for Tommy and our Make-A-Wish Funny Car crew. This is something we are all very happy to be part of, and I’m sure it will be a blessing that none of us will ever forget.”
Schumacher agreed.
“I am honored to be able to have DSR assist in making Austin’s wish come true,” said Schumacher. “All the Make-A-Wish children who have been with us at races this year have inspired all my teams and staff, and I know how much it will mean to them for Austin to be with us at Las Vegas and see his dream become a reality.”
