It has been a challenging week. What started with anticipation of
another great race has ended with a vacancy in our hearts. How do we get
through the days and weeks ahead? It will be difficult. The reality of
our sport is all to clear sometimes and all too painful. The modified
family is dealing with another tragic loss. Let us spend some time
working through this. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ.
John III was a friend. He was someone who had a passion to
race. You didn’t have to spend much time with him to know what made him
tick. He wanted to race, not just race but win. John was a racer, a
racer’s racer.
I remember talking with him a few weeks ago at Thompson. We
were talking about his former tour ride in the #77 and how the rumor
mill had him back in the driver’s seat. The rumors were wrong and John
didn’t know how they started. When I asked if he would consider driving
the car he responded that he would drive anything that had a shot at
winning. Last Thursday night he shared with me how much fun he had
driving a Super and how he was looking forward to driving one again at
Oswego .
One of the passions of his heart was to see Wall Stadium
filled with race fans. He wanted to see it returned to the glory days he
remembered. Wall represented a tremendous amount of history for the
Blewett family, both good and bad. As many times as he said he hated the
place it was never too far from his heart. It was fitting that he was
memorialized there Saturday night during the racing program. As we
walked off the track Saturday night John’s dream was fulfilled, the
stands were full. It is a shame that it took something like this to
accomplish that.
So many thoughts run through our heads, we have difficulty
putting things together. We want to wake up and have it be a bad dream.
When there is such a loss in our lives the hole that is left leaves us
feeling incomplete. Something is missing. It is.
John was a friend, mentor, competitor and racer. The void we
have is because we had a relationship with him. He meant something to
us. We knew him. We talked with him, we hung out with him, we watched
him grow, we watched him become the man he was, we watched him race and
we raced with him. We knew his passions and his dreams. We witnessed his
life. The void exists because he was a part of our life.
If we just knew of him his loss wouldn’t hurt. We could just
move on and remove it from our memory. It hurts because we did know him.
The closer we were to him the more it hurts. We want that piece of our
lives back!
Philippians 1:3, I thank my God every time I
remember you.
The way we rebuild is by filling that void, filling it with
the memories of how John touched our lives. Relive the precious moments.
Retell the racing stories. Remember his generosity. Remember how he
showed you he cared. Let his spirit live on in your actions. Let the way
he lived change the way you live.
II Corinthians 5:7, We live by faith, not by sight.
We don’t always understand what the future holds and how the
events of this past week will effect our lives. One thing is true it
will never be the same again. We need to continue on and show people
what John meant to us. We need to fill the void he left in our lives and
help others carry on. On a plaque in Jimmy’s trophy room it said “The
best thing about the future is it comes one day at a time.” That’s how
we will get through this, one day at a time.
Life is short and we are only here for such a small time. I
encourage you to take that time to reach out and touch someone’s life.
Scripture tells us the way to do that is by acting like God. Paul writes
in Galatians the character we should reflect.
Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit
is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
We ask God to comfort us and help us through this difficult
time. We lean on His mercy and grace. We place the future in His hands
and take life one moment at a time. We ask Him not to let us get
complacent and put things off until it is too late. Show someone how
much you love them, care for someone regardless of whether they deserve
it and live as if this is your last day on earth. God Bless, Rev. Don
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
The road has been a difficult and long one this week. I thank
God for Dan and having him at my side. He is an encouragement to me. I
received many words, calls and letters from folks letting us know how
much it means to them that we are there in times like these. Dan and I
both thank you for encouraging us. We are here because you are important
to us and we care about you. Thanks for standing with us.
We had a couple of other things we need to keep in prayer
this week;
Paul Andrews was seriously injured in an accident at his shop
for his son Tim Andrews Busch East car in Mooresville , NC last week
when he fell off a ladder while changing a light bulb. He fell about 30
ft. to the floor. He suffered a compression fracture of his spine, a
crushed left ankle, and some broken bones in his right ankle. Lift him
up in your prayers along with the entire family. Tim is hoping to be
with the Busch East at NHIS.
Barney McRae called me this week to let me know one of His
crew members passed away this week, Shannon S.P. Parot. Shannon was 29.
Shannon started working for Barney this year and joined the team on the
trip to Nashville . Shannon had Cronin’s disease and was admitted to the
hospital last week. He passed away while there. Please keep the entire
#5 Busch East team and Shannon ’s family in your prayers.
Chuck sent this in from Anderson; Anderson Speedway, its fans
and competitors lost a great friend and competitor Saturday evening when
driver and Ed Martin Autogroup SuperTruck points’ leader, Bob Lemen, 58,
succumbed to an apparent heart attack immediately after the feature
race.
Lemen had just completed the 40 lap Supertruck feature and
had pulled off the track in turn two to exit to the pits when his truck
slowly clipped the corner of the 88 truck that was in line to exit.
Lemen’s truck continued in a slow circle, reentering the track on turn
one and again exited in turn two toward the infield. Track officials
believed Lemen was encountering brake trouble and was waiting for the
other trucks to clear before exiting. On the third trip around, Lemon’s
truck collided at a slow speed with the front of a push truck which had
been stationed in the infield for the Winged Sprint race. Track
emergency personnel were immediately on the scene and administered aid
to Lemen. With the assistance of Anderson Fire Department personnel,
Lemen was extracted from his vehicle and transported to the St Johns
Emergency room where he was pronounced dead.
“This is a terrible loss, not only to the Speedway , but to
his multitude of friends, including myself” said Speedway President,
Rick Dawson, upon learning of Bob’s death. “Bob was a true Champion in
every since of the word, both on and off the track. He died doing what
he loved best. I was told that Bob had been complaining of tightness in
his chest all week but did not want to go to the Doctor in fear he would
tell him he couldn’t race. We are continuously reminded to heed the
warning signs and too often we ignore them. However, I am a firm
believer in when it is your time to go there isn’t anything you can do
and I know Bob is in a much better place now.” Dawson continued, “Bob
really wanted to win a championship. Winning a Championship means you
end up with more points than anyone else at the end of the season. Bob’s
season ended Saturday and he was leading the points which means to me he
left this world as a Champion of Anderson Speedway.”
In addition, this week racing photographer John Barnes called
and let us know that his mom had passed away. Virginia Barnes, 91,
passed away Sat. in Mercy Hospital . She was born Dec. 12, 1915. She had
been ill for some time and John wanted her to be at rest. John, she is
at rest now, home with the Lord. If you don’t know John, he is the one
you see at Thompson, Stafford and NHIS that shoots from a wheel chair.
Let him know you share his sorrow.
On a different note, they did race at Lime Rock on Saturday
and Matt Kobyluck brought home the victory followed by Sean Caisse and
Jeff Anton. Both the Whelen Modified Tour and The Busch East Series
return to action Saturday in Mansfield , Ohio . Hope to see you there.
Be a witness for our Lord with the ministry decals and
apparel. See them at the Online Apparel Store at
www.RWJM.org. Call us with your prayer
and counseling needs and list all your prayer needs, no matter what part
of our racing family you are in, with the Racing Family Prayer Request
Page
www.rwjm.org/page/prayers.php also send your prayer request by mail.
Until next time, remember that God loves you, we love you and
Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing. GOD BLESS.
Mail reaches us at Racing with Jesus Ministries, PO Box 586,
Tolland, CT 06084. Check our weekly printed pages in "Area Auto Racing
News", the East Coast’s largest weekly racing paper" See our on-line
Apparel Store for subscription information. Check our home page
www.rwjm.org for past articles. We
invite you to input your thoughts as you sign our Guest Book. Please
remember, we can only do what we do because of your prayerful financial
support.
Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you and keep
you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the
Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."
May God always Bless you, everyday in everyway. Rev. Don
CHECKERED CHEERS
***WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES***
August 23
JIM & PAT SPENCER - The CTS driver from Berwick , PA and lovely wife
share their 27th.
August 25
TOM & SUE FEARN - The Feeding Hills, MA ProStock championship and
Latemodel driver and wife have their 11th anniversary.
August 26
BOB & LISA CLASETTA - This Vernon, CT auto racing industry Sales
Rep. and wife have their 35th anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
August 22
STAN FRIESEN - Owner of NY's Lancaster and Ransomville Speedways.
NICHOLAS GRAVEL - One of ProStock driver Gege and wife Lisa's
children in Groton , MA .
TIFFANY FULLER - A daughter of BGN driver Jeff and wife Lisa is
9.
GAGE MICHAEL COLEMAN - The son of former Waterford Speedbowl
Modified Team owner Danny, and future Quarter Midget driver turned his
8th lap.
August 23
STEVE PARK - E. Northport, LI, NY CTS/BGN driver.
KENNY WALLACE - NNC/BGN driver from St. Louis , MO
ED KENNEDY - Coppell, TX ARCA/NASCAR BES/NASCAR retired WMT
driver.
ANDREW McILRAVEY - "Big Mac" is a 1960's Plainville , CT Stadium
driver, now a regular at Stafford and Thompson. True to his heritage you
can spot him by his plaid shirts.
NICOLE TRACI - Accord Speedway dirt Sportsman driver.
DORIS BRADLEY - The mother-in-law of Steve Wood, R&D with Ray
Evernham Racing, from Oakhurst , NJ .
August 24
DAVID BONNETT - Hueytown, AL BGN/ARCA driver.
MIKE JEFFREY - NY DIRT Modified driver.
TOM PERREGO - Another NY DIRT Mod driver.
CHUCK DOCHERTY - Connecticut ProStock/SK Mod driver.
TED HEBERT - Agawam, MA proprietor of Teddy Bear Pools, long time
racing sponsor.
AMANDA HAYES - Daughter of NH photographer Rich and wife Dede.
SARAH SMITH - Fiance of ACT crewman whose favorite singer is
Wayne Newton.
August 25
LARRY SHIVERS JR. - Brother to former WMT driver Gregg.
KYLE PURKS - Langhorne, PA 358 and URC Sprint driver.
JEFF PEARL - Colchester, CT Waterford Speedbowl based CT Modified
driver.
RODNEY COMBS, JR. - Fort Wayne, KY dirt LM and CTS driver.
PETE PERNESIGLIO - Riverhead Raceway Blunderbust driver.
August 26
RAY EVERNHAM - From Hazlet, NJ, he learned it all in NASCAR
Modified driving and has put it to excellent use as the owner for the
Dodge NNC program.
BARNEY McRAE - Colchester, VT NASCAR BES team owner/crew chief
and former driver.
NICOLE TRACY - This lady from Danbury , CT drives a dirt
Sportsman Modified at Accord Speedway in New York .
DAVE SILVIA - Seekonk Speedway Sportsman driver.
CHRIS DUSSEAULT - Wife of Somersworth, NH Marc Motorsports former
NASCAR BES team owner "Deuce."
KAITLYN DILLNER - The daughter of Long Island native SPEED
personality Bobby and wife Meredith is 9.
MARIO "SPEEDY" TOMAINO - Giants NFL fan and proud dad of Howell,
NASCAR WMT driver and RWJM Rep. Jamie.
August 27
MIKE MORTIMER - "Mighty Mike" drives the LM 14 at Riverhead Raceway.
JOHN MINE - Wall township Speedway driver.
JIMMY BAKER - Crew Chief for the Junior Miller driven Whelen
Southern Modified.
August 28
KRIS SMITH - Husband of former NHIS media room attendant and
chocolate chip cookie lover Stephanie.
RANDY LaJOIE - Norwalk, CT born two time BGN champ, currently
concentrating on selling his excellent race car seats.
KELLEY KING EARNHARDT - Grown-up daughter of the late Dale
Earnhardt.
SHARE YOUR SPECIAL OCCASIONS WITH YOUR RACING FAMILY.
SEND THEM TO RACING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES AT
PO BOX 586, Tolland, CT, 06084
TheChromeHorn RWJM Archives
Racing With Jesus Ministries Website