For drivers their guidance on the track comes from high atop the
grandstand, a spotter. In life we have many sources that we draw from
for guidance, but do we draw from the right source? The right source is
the Father himself. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ.
Drivers have that little voice in their ear. It comes via a radio
and it can be a few different people, but when he is out there racing
the voice he hears is that of his spotter. An extra set of eyes that
sees what he can't and helps the driver make the right decisions.
In life we have many people who are willing to help us make the
right decision. Which one do we listen to? It becomes difficult to
discern. The problem is we usually pick the advice we are comfortable
with, the advice that gives us a sense of security.
God would rather we chose the direction He has for us. His
direction requires that we depend on Him for our comfort and security.
In other words if by following God's direction you feel a little
uncomfortable and insecure you are probably in God's Will.
Joseph had some difficult directions to follow before the birth of
Christ.
Matthew 1:18-25, This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came
about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before
they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy
Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want
to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to
him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take
Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the
Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the
name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the
prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel" --which means, "God with us."
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had
commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with
her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Joseph risked everything to follow God. He had good standing in the
community. He didn't want to put Mary through public ridicule for
getting pregnant out of marriage. He would be subjected to the same
ridicule if he continued the engagement. I am sure following God's
direction made him more than a little uncomfortable. He did however
follow.
What did it cost him? We know that his family didn't approve, when
they arrived in Bethlehem the only place left was in a barn. His family
didn't want them and there was no room at the Inn . When the child was
born he was told to head to Egypt with his family. This cost him his
home and business. He later returned after the threat was gone as
directed by God, again uprooting his family. Joseph came to be known as
one who when God spoke, he buckled his sandals.
How will we be known? Will we be ready to follow the directions God
gives us? Will we reach down buckle our sandals and go? I encourage you
to listen to God's voice and in spite of the discomfort and insecurity
it might cause, follow him.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
Race weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway always is a little
hectic. The schedule is full. There doesn't seem to be any wiggle room
when the elements decide to intervene. We manage somehow to get the
races in. Saturday is usually the short day of the weekend, but this one
was a marathon. The Camping World race was postponed from the night
before and run at 10:00 Saturday morning. The Whelen Modified Tour went
off at 1:00 and because of the length of some track repairs after
Anthony Sesley hit the inside wall they gave way to the Craftsman
Trucks. After the truck race the Modifieds took the track to finish what
they had started and bookend the day with modified action as they
started it at 8:20 am with a short practice. We were all finished up
around 7:00 and headed out to dinner. What a day.
The weekend for me got off to a rough start, due to some issues I
had to miss Friday's action. I want to thank my daughter, Elisabeth for
filling in for me and assisting Rev. Dan. From what I heard she did an
excellent job. Thanks for welcoming her with open arms. I guess the
biggest action I missed was the outhouse tipping contest. A member of
Don King's Modified crew took the ride and came out clean. I would say
God was looking out for him as the port-a-jon was just cleaned.
Rain halted the action on Friday just in time to give RWJM a great
turnout for Chapel, one of the best we have had at NHMS. Is that what it
takes? My hope would be that all those in attendance see the value in
taking time and spending it together with God. They would make a
commitment to stay after the driver meeting for chapel and encourage a
friend to do the same.
We have some Sunday obligation at NHMS as we do a chapel service
for the Speedway Safety workers and close their safety meeting in
prayer. It is wet as I write this and I am not sure what the day will
bring, but we will be there.
This coming week has us on the road again and me with a heavy
heart. As we all know it is difficult to balance a full-time job and a
full racing schedule. I may not be able to travel with Dan. He will need
your prayers and support as he heads to Dover on Friday and Martinsville
on Saturday. We are trying to arrange some assistance, but it still is a
lot of travel to do on your own. Please be in prayer for my situation.
As you all know the time commitment continues to grow and it puts a
strain on many aspects of our lives. Please consider partnering with us
to relieve some of these challenges. Thank you to everyone for your
support and encouragement. We couldn't continue without it.
We did have some great racing action at NHMS. A few things to note,
Eddie Mac repeated as the Camping World Series winner. What was a huge
victory in June became magnified in September. I am sure there have to
be a few eyes on this team that has bested the sports biggest twice at
this New Hampshire Mile. Eddie is headed to Dover to do it again.
Matt Kobyluck climbed closer to that elusive championship with a
third place finish. I was talking with him and Tom Logano about his 192
point lead and Tom said even he could run the next two races and secure
the trophy. Matt gets to nail down the championship in his home state of
Connecticut at Stafford Motor Speedway of all places. I am sure there
will be a Mohegan Sun North at the Fall Final.
Steve Park looked like he was going to return to Victory Lane here
but faded in the last two laps. He finished second, but a victory can't
be too far away, look for him to be strong at Dover .
Matt Hirschman took his first ride in a Camping World car and the
apple doesn't fall far from the tree. His dad Tony is a two-time
Champion of the Series and Matt brought the Gillett-Evernham entry home
in fourth place. Austin Dillon rounded out the top five.
The Whelen Modifieds borrowed a little from Baseball and played a
day-night double header. They stopped after 60 and let the trucks run
and then ran the 40 lap shootout to end the day. The duel was between
six cars, TC, Jimmy Blewett, Ryan Preece, Eric Beers, Ryan Newman and
Bobby Grigas until a lapped car spoiled the show. Three of the top six
were affected and TC, Jimmy and Ryan went on to finish the race. I did
talk with Ryan Newman at the care center and he said he was having a
ball until...
TC is a familiar face to NHMS Victory Lane as he is the willingest
driver on the Magic Mile. Jimmy gave it one last shot coming off turn
Four but fell a car length short. The Mods didn't have their A game as
right from the start there was a pileup but as they settled down there
were plenty of lead changes and jockeying for position up front to dull
the memories of some of the not so pretty stuff. Anthony Sesley took a
hard hit on the inside wall of turn Two and caused the red flag that
would delay the race until evening. I talked with him and he said the
car just went out from under him. He was pretty sore but alright as we
walked back to his pit from the care center.
A shout out to Trent and the entire RSR team for their fifth place
finish. As Danny Sammons said, that was a whole lot better than the
hospital with a busted up foot like last year.
RAIN FALLS ON SMS - Stafford Motor Speedway suffered
it's fifth cancellation this past Friday and I know it has been a
difficult season for many tracks in New England . I spoke with Red
MacDonald of Lee and he lamented a familiar refrain about the weather
and it's affect on the season. Please make an effort to get out to a
local track before the end of the season. Spend some money there and
encourage these track to continue to keep at it.
BACK TO THE MOUNTAIN - Bob Menschner made a trip up to
Mountain Speedway and ended up staying two days. He didn't get lost,
they just wanted him to stay. A big thank you goes out to Elliot Wohl
who made sure Bob had a room and breakfast. Bob also shared how welcome
the track made him feel. I think Bob has found a home away form home.
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***
September 17
DICK & JUDY WIBBELSMAN - Gainesville, FL RWJM Advisor and Counselor
wife share their 40th anniversary.
BOB & CAROL PRATT - The brother of dirt Mod driver Richie Pratt
and wife share their 30th anniversary.
September 19
EARL & PAM KRAUSE - The Area Auto Racing News Assitant to the Editor
and columnist/ ARDC PR Director/Announcer and budding TV racing
personality along with his best friend wife have their 37th anniversary.
September 20
CHARLIE & MIMI MITCHELL - The veteran racing writer for the "Norwalk (CT)
Hour" and wife make it 50 years together.
September 21
SONNY & AMY STRUPP - Grandparents of Bill Darcy of Darcy Racing and the
#24 Micro-Sprint celebrate 61 years together.
September 22
JOSEPH & JUTTA ARENA - This Kensington, CT Riverside Park Speedway couple
have their 16th anniversary.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
September 17
PAT SPENCER - Wife of driver/TV personality, Jimmy.
DENNIS SAVAGE - Lisbon, CT Producer/Host of TV's "God's Masterpiece."
DEREK FELTENBERGER - The son of Grandview/ Big Diamond flagger/
photographer Mike and wife Mena.
September 18
BORIS SAID III - Carlsbad, CA NASCAR CTS and occasional NASCAR CWES/NSC
driver.
LOU CICCONI, JR. - The famous Aston, PA ARDC and more Midget driver.
FRANK JASHEMBOWSKI - Orange County Fairgrounds Speedway dirt Modified
driver.
LARRY VASSAR - Southington, CT ProStock team owner.
HAROLD BURDICK - Danielson, CT go-kart driver/owner and Stafford Motor
Speedway announcing team member.
STEVE RUBIN - Owner of the New Thompson Speedway excellent food
concessions from Needham, MA.
HENRY ST. JOHN - Proprietor of Jewett City Service in CT.
September 19
BILL GUERTIN - President and co-owner with Frank Ferrara of Whip City
Speedway in Westfield, MA.
SCOTT LOVELADY - Hartsdale, AL NASCAR All Pro Series driver.
JOE HOUDE - Millbury, MA LM driver.
GEOFF BRANSCOMBE - A son of NASCAR CWES team owner/driver Babe and wife
Deb.
JIM BRODERICK IV - "Bubba," Whip City 250cc Micro Sprint driver; son of
Jim and Debbie.
September 20
BRYAN WALL - Derry, NH Road course CWES driver.
SCOTT NEWELL - East Windsor Speedway Modified driver.
LANCE NORICK - Oklahoma City, OK NASCAR CTS driver.
SCOTT WEAVER - Shelby, NC Dash Series driver.
KYLE GRISSOM - A son of NASCAR driver Steve and wife Susan from Gadsen, AL.
September 21
RICHARD CHILDRESS - Welcome, NC famous NNS/NSC team owner.
ARIE LUYENDYK - Holland born, Scottsdale, AZ infamous IRL retired driver,
now TV commentator.
STEVE HODDICK - Cheektowaga, NY NASCAR CWES driver.
CURTIS MARKHAM - Fredericksburg, VA NNS/NSC driver.
GARY IULG - Retired Upstate NY driving great.
September 22
FRANK COZZE - Wind Gap, PA dirt Modified ace.
TOM MAUSER - NJ asphalt Modified driver.
JEFF ZUIDEMA - No. Brookfield, MA ProStock driver.
TIM MROWKA - Torrington, CT semi-retired asphalt Modified driver.
JEFF ZERELLA - Former Fiore Gulf Racing NASCAR WMT team crewman.
JASON LaHUE - Son of White Mountain Motorsports Park LM driver Don and
wife Robin.
STEVE BOTTCHER - Son of Lehighton, PA dirt Mod driver Bobby.
SONNY STRUPP - Grandfather of Bill Darcy of Darcy Racing and the #24
Micro-Sprint.
September 23
TOMMY SIGMON - Hickory, NC LMSC driver.
BILLY LAWSON - NC Modified driver.
TYCE CARLSON - Indianapolis, IN IRL driver.
SHARE YOUR SPECIAL OCCASIONS WITH YOUR RACING FAMILY.
SEND THEM TO:
RACING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES
PO BOX 586, Tolland, CT, 06084
TheChromeHorn RWJM Archives
Racing With Jesus Ministries Website
