As we remember the events of the past few weeks we know in our hearts we
need to move forward. Closing a chapter in our lives doesn’t mean having
to forget. It also means that we don’t have to act like it didn’t
happen. Many I have talked with feel this will take some time to close
this chapter. I agree and that’s alright, it’s a testament to how deeply
we felt for John and his place in our lives. Let us start the process of
moving forward. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ.
One of the most difficult things we do in racing is figuring
out the appropriate way to honor one of our own after they have gone. A
couple indications of their impact on the racing community are the
several attempts to remember them. I have seen many of the memorial
stickers from NASCAR to Wall to individual ones; each one honors John
and helps us move forward. These give us a comfort that when we look at
each one we will remember our friend, competitor, father, brother, and
mentor. We can move forward without forgetting. We can remember him as
we race.
I still think back on the events of the past every time I see
a sticker, whether it be John, Tom, or Pat. When I see one for someone I
didn’t know I remember the lives that person must have touched. I find
myself asking the question, “What would _____ do?” We all do and that
helps us retain the contribution they made to the sport that we love.
Our Lord had the same feelings when one of his friends passed
away. It didn’t matter that he had the power to resurrect his friend,
Scripture tell us;
John 11:35, Jesus wept.
In the passage it talks about how moved Jesus was when he saw
how much his friend had meant to his sisters and others. I believe Jesus
is also moved by our grief for John and he feels our sorrow. He weeps
along with us.
A few weeks ago at chapel service I read a poem called
Footsteps. In that poem God explains that he walks by our side through
life and when the road get tough he carries us. Each time we need him
and turn to him he is there reaching out his arms and picking us up.
That is the God we serve; a compassionate, merciful, forgiving God.
I am reminded of an encounter that is recorded in Scripture
about Peter and Jesus. The Disciples were in a boat on the water and
Jesus came to them walking across the water. Peter challenged Jesus and
said “Lord, if it is you let me walk on the water.”
Jesus replied, “Come.”
Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water. As he
walked toward Jesus he started thinking. He thought that he was just a
man and there is no way he could walk on water. Immediately he started
to sink.
At this point Jesus had two options, one let him sink and
splash around in the water, scared or pick him up and put him back on
the boat. Jesus did the compassionate thing and picked Peter up and
placed him back on the boat. During this time as we attempt to move
forward there will be days when we sink down. We know we can call on the
name of Jesus to pick us up and carry us through. Even when we challenge
God and get angry with him, he still shows us compassion and
forgiveness. What a wonderful God we serve.
The weeks and months ahead will be full of ups and downs. As
some have put it, life will feel like a roller coaster, one moment up
the next the bottom falls out. With the Lord by our side we will
persevere and be able to move forward.
Remember that moving forward doesn’t mean forgetting or
refusing to accept the reality of what happened. We can and should
remember, that will help us heal the hurt in our hearts. We serve a
gracious God who knows the grief in our hearts, He can and will carry us
as we move forward. He loves us.
Romans 8:37-39, No, in all these things we are more
than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that
neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present
nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything
else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
Thompson Speedway honored John Blewett III last Thursday
night with a special flag lowering ceremony before the Sunoco Modified
Feature. It was a fitting tribute to John who raced there this year as
part of the Thursday Night Thunder racing program. I was honored to lead
in prayer as we remembered all that John had contributed to the racing
community. The staff and drivers did a great job. Kerry Malone dedicated
his win to John in victory lane.
Friday night saw Woody Pitkat continue his winning spree at
Stafford Motor Speedway by winning the SKMod feature. He still maintains
the national points lead in the Whelen All-American Racing Series. This
is the time of year that the standings tighten up, previous low finishes
are replaced with wins or better finishes. Keep up the momentum Woody.
After the Friday night race Woody joined TC on the flight to
Mansfield Ohio to compete on the Whelen Modified Tour. Woody had another
good day, he finished third, his best tour finish to date, in the rain
shortened event.
In actuality the podium looked more like a Stafford finish
than a tour finish, James Civali won, Doug Coby came home second and
Woody followed. All three cut their teeth racing at Stafford Motor
Speedway. I was thinking the other day how blessed we are here in
Northeast Connecticut . We have some of the best drivers in the country
right here to watch every week. Get out there and watch!
I had the opportunity to address the crowd on Saturday before
the Whelen Modified race at Mansfield . I extended to them the
appreciation and thanks from the Blewett family for all the support they
have received from the racing community. I also encouraged them to keep
the family in their prayers in the weeks to come. I asked them to
remember John for the racer he was and how he touched the lives of so
many.
I talked with Jimmy this week. He was appreciative of the
outpouring of support and caring from so many over the past few weeks.
He shared with me that plans are being put in place for his return to
racing. He wants to race the family car and also race again on the tour.
He has a new uniform coming and will be back out there soon.
This is a difficult and emotional decision. Jimmy is
motivated to honor John and how much John meant to him as he developed
as a racer. Jimmy is an example to us all as he picks up the pieces and
moves on, not forgetting but being motivated to honor John’s memory.
We also contested a Grand National Busch East race in Ohio .
After the rain that shortened the WMT races passed the track was dried
and the race was fit in between the cloud outbursts. Within a few
minutes of the checkered for Sean Caisse the skies opened up. Actually
it felt pretty good after a day out in the sun.
The Busch race was hard fought between Matt Kobyluck and Sean
with Joey Lagono having a front row seat in third. Through many restarts
the two dueled and Sean came out on top in the end.
We had a joint chapel service and it was interesting as a
contingent of young development drivers from the Busch East walked
across the infield to join us at the WMT Tech Hauler. In their eyes are
the dreams that making racing worth it. Both Dan and I are excited about
their support for the ministry and the feedback they give us after the
service. These young guys are making the right choice in putting God
first. Take a look the next time you see them race and it will surprise
you haw many of them carry the ministry decals.
This week finds Dan and I headed to Martinsville for the
Whelen Made in America 300. The WMT now has the 300 mile race back. We
are looking forward to having a new helper with us, Phillip Satkowski.
He is hoping to get the time off from his new job to hit the road with
the Dynamic Duo. We’ll let Kenny give him some travel tips. Hope you can
make the trip to this historic track that is rich in Modified history.
God Bless and have a great week, Rev. Don.
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***
**BELATED**
August 25
JOE AND CAROL CIVALI - Parents of WMT driver James and BES spotter
Joey celebrate thier 28th. Son James gave them a victory at Mansfield
for a present this year.
August 30
SONNY & HENRIETTA KOSZELLA - The proprietor of Koszella Speed
Warehouse in Coventry, RI and wife have their 48th anniversary. They are
also the very proud parents of the lovely Julie Stefanik, wife of NASCAR
WMT & BES Mike Stefanik.
August 31
RICK & LIND RODENBAUGH - This NASCAR WMT couple, she with the Jake
Morose Team and he Co-Crew Chief for Wade Cole share their 5th.
September 1
BRUCE & SALLY SHIREY - This Latrobe, PA couple who live just five
miles from Latrobe Speedway and also enjoy road racing, have their 22nd
anniversary.
September 3
WILLIS & LOIS MERRILL - Kennebunk, ME NASCAR BES GRAND NATIONAL fans
celebrate their anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
August 29
MARK FLEURY - NY DIRT Modified driver.
August 30
KEVIN ECKERT - Allentown, PA based Sprint/Midget writer.
AUSTIN MARIE BRUNO - This little lady is the first child of
Bomoseen, VT American-Canadian Tour/ Busch East Series Grand National
driver Mike and wife Alayne and turns 6.
August 31
JERRY SOLOMITO - Riverhead Modified driver.
JOHN HEWITT - DIRT Modified driver.
GARY MOORE - Horseshoe, NC driver/owner.
HOWIE HODGE - Well liked and respected photographer from
Manchester, CT.
September 1
BRETT HEARN - Sussex, NJ top DIRT Modified driver.
LENNY FISCHER - Riverhead Raceway Modified driver.
EDDIE HOWELL - Lakeland, Fl former Dash Series driver.
LARRY BOUCHARD - Feeding Hills, MA ProStock driver.
DAVID STOKES - Son of Wall Township Speedway co-announcer Roger
Stokes.
FRAN COLSON III - Son of Leominster, MA ProStock driver Fran and
wife Doreen is 18.
September 2
JIM CHAPIN - Friend of RWJM ministries.
JACK JOHNSON - Duanesburg, NY legendary dirt Modified driver.
MARK FUSCO - DIRT Modified driver.
BLAIR AIKEN - Lakeport, CA NASCAR West driver.
STEVE GOLEMBESKI, Jr. - Jamie Tomaino NASCAR WMT team crewman.
CLAYLENE ADAMS - Wife of Pomfret, CT Pro Tour Truck and ProStock
driver Leo.
ADAM VENEZIAN - The son of Statewide Trailer/ Perth Amboy Spring
owner Joe and wife Linda.
September 3
JACK PENNINGTON - Augusta, GA LMSC driver.
CARLTON P. MERRILL - From Newton, MA, Carl is the GM at Monadncok
Speedway near Keene, NH.
NORM McINTOSH - Crewman on the NH based Mike Weeden LM.
RANDY LEE JOHNSTON - This Waterford Speedbowl fan is 21.
September 4
BOB JENKINS - Renowned as racing's premier pass-by-pass action TV
announcer on ESPN for the IRL, this Indianapolis, IN resident is also
with Linger Productions who produce such great race coverage and Bob is
also the voice of the Indy 500 Radio Network.
REV. JOE BUBBICO - This former CT based Modified driver also has
quite a voice and is now using it to witness for our Lord as the RWJM
West Coast Coordinator and Track Chaplain at Orange Show Speedway and
Perris Speedway while continuing his driving at OSS from his home in
Winchester, CA.
JEFF FEHR - Mahoning Valley Speedway driver.
BRANDON BUTLER - Richmond, VA NASCAR CTS driver.
FRED STODDARD - Brother-in-Law of Stafford Late Model driver Tom
Fearn.
BILL EMHOFF - York Maine crew member on Art Barry's #21 WMT.
SHARE YOUR SPECIAL OCCASIONS WITH YOUR RACING FAMILY.
SEND THEM TO RACING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES AT
PO BOX 586, Tolland, CT, 06084
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