Nebraska race community comes together, supporting one of their own

LINCOLN, Neb. - The Nebraska racing community is coming together in support of one of their own.

14-year-old Bryan Post, a young race fan, who was even served as a crew member, suffered a spinal cord injury, and when he could no longer make it out to the track, drivers from around the area, brought the racing to him.

On Tuesday, several area drivers brought their cars to the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, with the goal of putting a smile on Matthew’s face.

Brandon Johnson of Beatrice helped coordinate the event.

“There’s nothing better than the racing community… People think we’re rednecks, but we’re really not.” Johnson said. “The racing community pulls together and we see it in everything we do.”

Bryan’s dad, Matthew Post, made a Facebook post, inviting the racing community to make it to Madonna. Within a few hours, hundreds had already chimed in in support. Johnson was one of many to share the post.

“One post, on one site, takes traction everywhere,” Johnson said. “I had hundreds of likes, hundreds of shares. Matt shared it, Eagle [Raceway] shared it. I believe the Beatrice Hall of Fame shared it, Blue River Raceway shared it. It just shows you what the racing community can do when you ask one question of, please come help.”

18-year-old Lincoln driver Cade Richards was one who heard about the event through Facebook.

“We saw it on Facebook so we thought it was a good way to take some time out of our day to hopefully make someone else's day, a little better,” Richards said.

A neat part of the event was that it also allowed other Madonna patients to enjoy the day. Madonna’s Pediatric Program Manager Jeff Stecc says it was an opportunity for patients to work their way back to pre-accident or injury condition.

“Our focus is always trying to help families find their way back to their life before the accident or injury that got them into our care,” Stecc said. “It’s a way for patients to navigate their chair in the heat, navigate in the heat and navigate their chair in different places or ways.”

Johnson says the goal of the day was show support for the Post family.

“We just want them to know everyone’s here for them,” Johnson said. “Not just 1-2 of us, but everyones here and we want them to know, whatever they need, come ask, we will always be here.”