Tuesday evening, after learning about the untimely death of Michael Glenn Mastalez — a “big 2 fan” — NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski recounted with his Twitter followers a special moment he spent with the 21-year-old one week earlier.
Mastalez and four others died in a sightseeing helicopter crash last Monday in Tennessee.
1). It’s an old fable in Hollywood, that your waiter or waitress is probably an aspiring actor/actress. I’m not sure if that’s true there…
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) April 13, 2016
2). I can tell you It’s definitely true that in Mooresville, Nc your waiter or waitress is probably an aspiring racer.
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) April 13, 2016
3). I had the pleasure of being served by Michael at a local restaurant in Mooresville this past Wednesday before he died so tragically.
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) April 13, 2016
4). The dinner started as a quiet meeting with an associate and a job interviewee in a back room of the restaurant where he worked.
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) April 13, 2016
5). With special instructions in mind I grabbed Michael upon his introduction and walked into another room to speak with him.
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) April 13, 2016
6). Michael’s slender build comedically complimented his nervous body language & he had something to say but I gave him no such opportunity.
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) April 13, 2016
7). “Michael, were going to have some fun, I want you to mess up everything we order on the menu tonight to see how this interview reacts.”
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) April 13, 2016
8). I told this to him and his nervous smile turned into a grin and he answered, “sure, BTW I’m a big 2 fan…” I smiled, so did the night.
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) April 13, 2016
9). A few hours, a few beers and a lot of conversation later, the night came to an end and the interviewee barely said a word about his food
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) April 13, 2016
10). Michael and I could barely contain our laughter that night as he brought the check, asked how the food was and waited for the answer.
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) April 13, 2016
11). “Just Fine,” the interviewee said nervously as our faces turned red from starring at him. I thanked Michael for being such a good help.
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) April 13, 2016
At that moment Michaels body language was to leave but his heart said to stay and chat like we were old friends and so We spoke at length.
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) April 13, 2016
13). Michael had moved from Texas a college kid eager to follow a dream of motorsports and finance. Tonight was his night to share his dream
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) April 13, 2016
14). He passed in the hours to come, I guess not everyone gets to live their dream…
May this we never forget.
Godspeed @MichaelMastalez
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) April 13, 2016
And then Mastalez’s best friend jumped into the conservation, letting Keselowski know that his friend was “on cloud nine” after meeting the 2012 Sprint Cup Series champion.
@keselowski Michael was my roommate and best friend! He was on cloud nine that night when he came back home and told me about serving you!
— Brody Wilhelm (@BrodyWilhelm) April 13, 2016
@keselowski yes he did, the note is probably now at his home in Prosper, TX
— Brody Wilhelm (@BrodyWilhelm) April 13, 2016
@keselowski maybe I can get ahold of it for you
— Brody Wilhelm (@BrodyWilhelm) April 13, 2016