NASCAR Angels perform miracle

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tong Duong
The smell of a wet dog will no longer reek from the car seat  when it rains and assault the nostrils of one Luke technical sergeant, nor will he have to drive to work through the sweltering Arizona summer without air conditioning.
 
Thanks to his family, friends and coworkers, Tech. Sgt. Keith Brown, 56th Logistic Readiness Squadron Vehicle Operations supervisor, was nominated and selected by the NASCAR Angels to have his 1993 Nissan NX 1600 made over.
 
Sergeant Brown's Nissan was in total disrepair. The vehicle had more than 200,000 miles, a leaking T- top, corroded battery tie downs secured by a coat hanger, a worn and shabby interior, squeaky brakes and a long list of other problems.
 
Due to the difficulty of finding parts for the 14-year-old car, NASCAR Angels came up with plan "B."
 
The NASCAR Angels teamed with members of Air Park Auto Service who donated their labor to present the Brown family with a custom 2001 Oldsmobile Alero, while more than 60 members from the 56th LRS cheered for him and his family.
 
According to the NASCAR Web site, the Angels are a mix of the popular TV show "Extreme Home Makeover and "Pimp My Ride," whose mission is to fix rides in three days and give people a NASCAR experience they'll never forget.
 
Jennifer Moore, the wife of Sergeant Brown's best friend, Jeff Moore, submitted an application to the Angels about the condition of Sergeant Brown's car. 

The Moores met and befriended the Browns more than five years ago when Sergeant Brown was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.
 
"Keith does everything for everyone, but never asks for anything in return," Jeff Moore said. "If you're in a bind, he is always there to help out. He really deserves this." 

According to two of Sergeant Brown's children, Austin, 13, and Breanne Lowe, 16, the new car was well received.
 
"It's a trillion times nicer than the old one," Austin said. "I especially like the interior and wheels. My dad is a lucky man; he really deserves it, because good things happen to good people." 

Breanne saw another benefit of the new vehicle.
 
"It's a lot better and nicer than what he was driving," she said.  "Now that the windows roll up, he won't have to wear his rain coat while he drives."
 
The Sergeant Brown NASCAR Angels segment will air at 11 a.m. May 25 on Channel 15.