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A Dream Fulfilled

Memories of the Allstate 400 at Brickyard will be etched in a Crawfordsville woman's mind as she fulfilled her dream of meeting her favorite NASCAR driver.

Leona Wynne received tickets to the Allstate 400 from Never Too Late, an organization that reaches out to people in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospice programs and adult daycare facilities to help make wishes come true.  Most of the recipients are generally age 65 and older.

Wynne's wish was to meet NASCAR driver Bill Elliot. The arrangement was made through Aseracare Hospice, Indianapolis.

"He was a perfect gentleman on and off the track," Wynne said regarding the 49-year-old driver. She immediately displayed a photograph of Wynne and Elliott sitting together.

Never Too Late is similar to the Make A Wish Foundation, which caters to the wishes of children as old as 18 with a life-threatening illness or medical condition.

Wynne, 75, is a resident at Hickory Creek Nursing Home, Crawfordsville. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer three years ago and currently is battling the worst stage - stage IV - of the cancer, leaving her with a one in five chance of survival.

A big NASCAR fan since 1986, Wynne has traveled to North Carolina to watch Elliott race. Like many fans, Wynne was worried Elliott would not be seen in a NASCAR again after he severally injured himself in a crash in 1996.

"I never dreamed he would race again," Wynne said.

Besides meeting Elliott and NASCAR driver Ricky Rudd, Saturday also was a memorable day because Wynne's son, Charles, was able to accompany his mother to the Allstate 400.

"I'm so glad my son got to go with me," Wynne said. "He was suppose to work the race, but my son didn't and went with me instead."

The experience was more than meeting famous NASCAR drivers, it also represented a family outing.

"My son and I both had a good time," Wynne said. "We don't get to do many things together."

The NASCAR-once-in-a-lifetime experience always will keep a smile on Wynne's face.

"I had a swell time," Wynne said. "I will probably never have the experience again."

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