Alexander, 25, was laid to rest in his hometown of Montoursville following a funeral Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church.

Alexander is survived by his parents, Blaise Sr. and Anne, brothers Aubrey and Adam and sister Maureen. All were at the funeral.

Monsignor Francis J. Castellano recounted hearing about Alexander's death, which occurred when his car slammed into the wall almost head on after passing Kerry Earnhardt for the lead with four laps to go in the EasyCare 100 in Concord, N.C. on Oct. 4.

"Priests are thought to feel no pain and have hard hearts," Castellano said. "But, we do feel pain and we do cry. I cried for Blaise and his family.

"The pain may lessen, but it will never go away," Castellano said. "Listen to the people speak of him -- his former teachers, the principal from his high school, his friends in racing -- they all say, 'Blaise was a happy person. Blaise always had a smile on his face.'

"I believe young Blaise is smiling because he knew he had won, he had crossed the final finish line. And God was there, waving the checkered flag of victory."

Nearly 1,800 people turned out for Alexander's viewing Monday night, including New York Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina, a Montoursville native.

"This is very personal and very private and really hits home," Mussina said. "It's tough because Blaise was doing what he loved to do, but he put himself on the line every day he went out there. Year in and year out, you see this happening to drivers and you just hope and pray it doesn't happen to someone this close, and yet it has."

Alexander had three career ARCA wins, including one this year at Michigan Speedway. He also was running a limited schedule on the Busch Grand National Series, with a best finish of 11th at the same track.

"I stop and wonder why someone so young, with so much talent, could meet such a tragic and horrific end," family friend Chet Ruth of Williamsport said Tuesday. "Racing has lost a piece of its future. ... He was a rising star."

Earnhardt, eldest son of the late Dale Earnhardt, was not injured in the wreck. His car came to a stop near the start/finish line and he was able to climb out and run from it as the flames intensified.