Young racer donates trophy to family of slain deputy Blane Lane
AUBURNDALE – Teenagers are usually proud to have won trophies for some sort of competition, placing them in prominent spots in their homes.
But Carsen Holt didn't think the trophy he received for a feature car race he won the weekend of Oct. 15 belonged in his bedroom or on a shelf in the family living room. Instead, it will sit on a shelf in the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Driving a Minicup car – a half-scale stock racing car - the 13 year old won his race at the Auburndale Speedway. Instead of taking it home, he decided to donate it to the sheriff’s office in honor of slain Polk County Sheriff's Office Deputy Blane Lane.
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Lane became a deputy on the Northwest District Patrol in January. He graduated Polk State College law enforcement-detention academy in September 2020 and was hired as a detention deputy in May 2021.
In the early morning of Oct. 4 while he and three other deputies were serving a warrant in Polk City for Cheryl Lynn Williams, 46, on a charge of failure to appear for possession of methamphetamine. Lane stood guard outside the mobile home while two other deputies went inside the home and began shooting when Williams pulled a weapon. A bullet struck Lane in the arm and entered his chest. He later died at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center.
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That tragic news moved Carsen who said he’s always respected law enforcement and was saddened to see such a young deputy die in the line of duty.
“I thought it was terrible when that officer passed away," said Carsen, a Lakeland native. "He was super young and I saw (deputies) come off the track and I thought it would be an awesome opportunity to present them with the trophy.”
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Where the trophy most likely will be placed
The trophy most likely will be placed in the PCSO’s Northwest District Office in Lakeland, which is where Blane was assigned and where his shift partners worked, said Brian Bruchey, sheriff’s office spokesman.
Carson, son of Fred Holt and Britni Wheeler, was inspired to start auto racing by his grandfather, Steve Smith and his first race was Aug. 28, 2020. The McKeel Academy of Technology 7th grader races scaled-down mini cup race cars and placed second in the championship series in 2021 and is currently first in points for 2022.
“I just picked it up and learned how to run grooves on the track and my grandfather taught me how to run different grooves,” said Carson, who also plays baseball.
As for the future, Carson hopes to one day to be accepted into the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, North Carolina and become a pit crew member. Until then, it’s more practice in racing and in life.
“It was really an amazing feeling and it made me feel better that I gave the trophy to a family who had just lost a loved one,” he said.
Posted on the Auburndale Speedway website was: “This is a young man with many dreams of collecting trophies, but he decided to donate this one as a gesture of his appreciation for law enforcement and the unfortunate loss of a young deputy.”
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Carsen’s gesture was personally moving and to others at the sheriff’s office.
“You can tell this young man has a big heart and his priorities in life are impressive. To be thinking of others after he won this race is an example to others,” Judd said via email. “His actions are generous, comforting and thoughtful.”
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland native donates trophy to family of slain Polk deputy Blane Lane
