NHRA Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher had a special guest in his pits during last February’s season-opening Winternationals. Schumacher had personally invited his “number-one fan,” seven-year-old Bryce lafler and his mom Jennifer to join him in Pomona, and through the generosity of local businesses in their hometown of Amherst, Ohio, they were able to raise enough money to make the trip.
NHRA Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher had a special guest in his pits during last February’s season-opening Winternationals. Schumacher had personally invited his “number-one fan,” seven-year-old Bryce lafler and his mom Jennifer to join him in Pomona, and through the generosity of local businesses in their hometown of Amherst, Ohio, they were able to raise enough money to make the trip.

Two days after returning home from the trip Bryce entered Ohio’s Akron Children’s Hospital where he underwent the third cardiac surgery of his young life.

According to Jennifer, her son faced his ordeal with calmness, strength and courage. “Something was noticeably different about my son’s demeanor upon returning home,” she said. “His apprehensions and fears regarding his surgery had been removed.  Instead, I found a courageous, inspired little man in my son’s body.  His mind was focused, his spirits light, and his attitude overwhelmingly positive and upbeat.

“It is through our experience in Pomona that Bryce’s mental, physical, and emotional health superseded his expected recovery process.  The demeanor of everyone at the Winternationals was so welcoming and reassuring.  For an entire weekend, Bryce was a champion, and he beamed with such character and determination.”

Congenital heart defects affect every 1 in 115 births, so in an effort to bring cardiac awareness, encouragement, and continued optimism to the forefront for the general public Jennifer Lafler has formed Team Braveheart.

“The NHRA industry offers such a tremendous opportunity to make a difference in the lives of these children that I have taken Bryce’s experience and parlayed it into something outstanding, focused and inspiring that will hopefully effect the lives of other Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) children,” said Lafler. 

Team Braveheart is a group of children between the ages of seven and18 who have had to endure lengthy battles with open-heart surgeries and countless invasive procedures and tests.  Team Braveheart’s stated goal is to “increase CHD (Congenital Heart Disease) awareness by promoting positive mental and physical heart-healthy attitudes with the support of our friends in the NHRA industry.”

Team Braveheart will launch its first annual conference at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, Norwalk, Ohio, and June 29th at the DSR (Don Schumacher Racing) House of Champions.

To honor the members of Team Braveheart, a private heart-healthy luncheon with the NHRA drivers from DSR will be provided, as well as musical entertainment and moments of spoken inspiration from survivors of CHD’s as well as some personal insights and life experiences from the drivers.

Team Braveheart’s mission is to make available opportunities to children between the ages of seven and 18 afflicted with Congenital Heart Disease.  These opportunities will involve the support of NHRA race teams and sponsors.  Team Braveheart will provide the opportunity for members to discuss past and present challenges and ways to work within each member’s personal boundaries. 

“Our mission as a support group is to implement continued support throughout the lives of these children and their families,” said Laflier. “The friendships and relationships created with this opportunity will be supportive, long lasting, and making a heartfelt difference in the lives of children across the nation.

“Companies and individuals have donated their time, hard work, professionalism and good faith in an investment of the heart. The expenditures for tickets, graphic logo design, vinyl graphics for the cars, attorneys’ time establishing a 501C3, our T-shirts from California, staff, food, space to hold our event, gifts for the kids have all been an investment from the heart,” said laflier. “The value of the “investment” cannot be measured.  It can only be read upon the faces of the children when they experience the feeling of being a champion at our Team Braveheart events.  The lives of our Braveheart children and their families that have gone for years without a means of emotional support will now have the opportunity to become part of an exclusive group of Braveheart individuals. 

“I would like to take this opportunity to personally invite the NHRA, and sponsors, into the lives of our Bravehearts.  Come to the DSR hospitality tent Friday, June 29, between 11am and 1pm to meet our “team” and make a heartfelt difference in their lives.  In order for Team Braveheart to achieve our two future sites at Reading and Pomona, we need sponsorship. All eligible sponsors will receive the benefits of marketing through website exposure.  Please make a heartfelt difference in the lives of these children and provide your support for this important cause.