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(Photo by Harold Hinson Photography 2016)

Inside Line Promotions – LAS VEGAS (March 10, 2016) – Big Al’s legacy has lived on following his untimely passing last summer.

The Big Al Kids & Motorsports Foundation, which was created by Al Tschider – a.k.a. Big Al – to provide motor sports trips and racing opportunities for children battling life-threatening conditions and illnesses, tackled its first marquee trip of the year last weekend.

The Foundation provided a special trip to Las Vegas for Dominic Carter, who is a 10-year-old from Stanwood, Wash., battling severe Pediatric Crohn’s Disease and Neuralgia.

“It’s plagued him since he was really little,” said Melina Carter, who is Dominic’s mother. “Since he was two and a half he’s had off and on symptoms of it. It was a year ago almost to the day of the trip he was diagnosed.

“It affects him in multiple areas. He’s always tired and dehydrated and has pain anywhere there is a joint. He gets wiped out of energy really quickly. Sleeping is difficult a lot of times.”

Dominic Carter struggles with pain more than any child should, but he has found a shining light that often makes the discomfort subside – racing. Carter competes in a quarter midget when he can and last year when he met Big Al the two struck up a friendship circled around the sport.

Carter’s dream trip was to head to Las Vegas during the weekend that The City of Lights hosts the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series as well as NASCAR. Big Al worked toward making that dream a reality and following his sudden passing a handful of volunteers took over running the Big Al Kids & Motorsports Foundation.

The first major item on the docket was to fulfil Carter’s dream, which was accomplished last weekend after many months of planning.

“It’s the first time we’ve seen him be excited and full of life and happy,” Melina Carter said while fighting back tears. “It didn’t matter if he was exhausted, he was going everywhere and had a smile for everybody. It was really amazing. He went from every night having to put him to bed crying about his stomach to it didn’t really matter while we were there. It was a huge deal for us to be able to see him be happy again. He was bouncing and laughing and jumping. It’s stuff we haven’t seen him do for extended periods of time. It was great.”

The trip began a week ago Wednesday with Big Al Kids & Motorsports Foundation board member Maria Lynn Nelson accompanying the Carters.

“The people at the Alaska Airlines gate had him come on with first-class passengers,” Nelson said. “Dominic got to sit in the pilot’s seat and put on the pilot’s hat. They gave him wings and the co-pilot showed him the cockpit.”

That hospitality continued throughout the trip as NASCAR driver Brendan Gaughan and his family, who own the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa, provided free rooms for Carter, foundation members and Big Al’s sister, Missie.

“When we checked in at the hotel Brendan came out of a back room,” Nelson said. “We introduced ourselves and he was very gracious. The Big Al Kids & Motorsports Foundation is so grateful for the support of the Gaughan family.”

Carter was able to take part in the Fremont Street Experience that evening before Thursday’s activities included a guided tour at Rick’s Restorations and trips to Pawn Stars and Count’s Vamp’d Rock Bar & Grill.

Thursday evening featured a trip to The Dirt Track at Las Vegas for the first night of the World of Outlaws doubleheader at the half-mile oval, where Carter met NASCAR star Kyle Larson and got to hang out with many of the top World of Outlaws drivers prior to the race.

World of Outlaws officials asked Carter to participate in the dash draw, where he was interviewed on the public address system prior to pulling the pill that determined the dash lineup.

At the end of the night race winner Joey Saldana gave Carter his winner’s hat as a souvenir.

The excitement continued on Friday as Carter headed to Las Vegas Motor Speedway and was able to walk around the pits, getting pictures with NASCAR drivers and crew members. Gaughan put him in his stock car and showed him the switches in the car before giving a tour of the race hauler.

Carter capped that night by watching the World of Outlaws finale at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas.

Saturday showcased another fun-filled day as Carter ventured to the NASCAR XFINITY Series event. Gaughan had Carter walk to the stage prior to driver introductions and stand in the back of a truck waving to the fans as it circled the track prior to the start of the race. Carter then watched the race from the Gaughan family suite.

“It was beyond anything that anybody could have expected it to be,” Melina Carter said. “Anything that Al wanted this trip to be, it was completely fulfilled. We really feel like a lot of the stuff he was able to do on this trip, it felt like we were in the right place at the right time. Al was with us because Dominic got to go in with all the (NASCAR) Sprint Cup guys even though he didn’t have a pass. He got to take pictures with the crews and drivers. Brendan put him in his stock car and in the truck to go around and wave to everybody. It was just amazing.”

Carter also watched Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup event from the Gaughan family suite before spending Monday visiting many Las Vegas attractions, including Le Rêve, which is a premier water show.

Carter flew home to Washington on Tuesday. Alaska Airlines representatives surprised him with a bag full of airplane models and memorabilia, which capped the week of fulfilled dreams.

Although Carter’s medical status will continue to drive him down a bumpy road for what doctors predict will be the rest of his life, thanks to the love of Big Al – and the devoted volunteers who have continued his cause – he was able to enjoy at least one week with a smile plastered across his face.

“We are so grateful for Big Al and everyone at the Big Al Kids & Motorsports Foundation for their love and support,” Melina Carter said. “It was a dream come true to see the joy in my son’s face throughout his dream trip.”

BIG AL KIDS & MOTORSPORTS FOUNDATION –

Big Al Kids & Motorsports Foundation was created to provide motor sports trips and racing opportunities for children battling life-threatening conditions and illnesses. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/Big-Al-Kids-Motorsports-Foundation-331823116849496/.

“I really believe in motor sports and it gives these kids something to look forward to,” Founder Al Tschider said prior to his untimely passing in 2015. “They spend a lot of time at the hospitals or just doing stuff that the normal kid doesn’t have to do.”

The Big Al Kids & Motorsports Foundation would like to thank Steve Forler Trucking, Village Green Resort, FX Signs, Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series, Brenton’s Outdoor Adventures, MyTrafficMan.com, Joe Jones Entertainment, Satellite Solutions, Liquid Lime, Northwest Powder Coating & Sandblasting, Ridge Runner Wings, Randy Price, Steve Beitler, JSR Motorsports, Pro Mod Engines, RS Products, Triple X Race Co., OPC, JOES Racing Products, Design 500 Racewear, SpeedMart, Vic’s Old Gas Pumps, Moka Joe’s Coffee and all of the people who have donated time and money for their continued support.

MEDIA LINKS –

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BigALkidsMSF

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Al-Kids-Motorsports-Foundation/331823116849496?ref=ts&fref=ts

INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –

Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.

To meet the media relations needs of your program and to join Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or Shawn@InsideLinePromotions.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.