NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour 150 :: Caraway Speedway

Our second to last Mod race of the season was at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, NC this past weekend.

We again had a late night Friday night as we hit the road after work on Friday and rolled into the Microtel parking lot around 1:30AM. Our trip in was good...smooth sailing the whole way! We've had a few traffic jams over the course of the year that we've sat through, so every 'clean' drive is a good drive!

We got to Caraway Speedway around 2:00 after a killer meal at an Indian buffet we found in Greensboro. The gates opened at 2:00 at the track, so we did end up in a slight traffic jam of haulers trying to cram into the tiny infield of the track. By the time we finally waited our turn to drive through and park all of our teams were already unloaded with some rolling through tech.

In the letter this week I drew from a verse in Psalm 46, "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth." I paralleled the verse to a song I heard this week by blues artist Jonny Lang called "Red Light". Jonny's song dives into the depths of the thoughts that can transpire as we sit at a "Red Light". I extrapolated that thought further to say that we need more "Red Light's" in our lives to be still and know that He is God.

Michelle helped me to tape up the new devotionals and pull down the old ones from the previous week that were still left hanging on some of the haulers. And as the day progressed, so did the conversations.

Every week our NASCAR tour director graciously welcomes us as he welcomes the various guests that are also with the series that weekend. He doesn't have to, people are getting to know us now, but it is a great sign of 'welcomeness' (is that a word??) and appreciation for our traveling to be with the series. He has been outstanding to us over the course of the past two seasons. Following the meeting I led us in a short prayer, thanking God for His blessings and asking His guidance in our lives throughout the course of the evening.

Following the drivers meeting we were treated to an excellent meal again by one of our teams. Roast Beef stew, homemade coleslaw, and homemade cobbler. Need I say more...?

About thirty minutes prior to the race I began to walk up and down the front stretch of the track praying with each driver as they greeted fans and prepared to strap into their machines. As was true with our last race at Caraway, as I was praying with the last driver I heard my name called over the track P.A. system with an invitation to the start finish line to present the invocation. Obliged.

The rest of the evening went smooth. There were no major incidents on track. I say no "major" incidents knowing every incident is major to the team it is happening to...but God's protection was upon every driver, crewmember, official, and fan throughout the evening.

We headed back home Sunday...and will turn around and head back to Caraway in just a week and a half for the final race of the 2007 NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified season.

Southern National 150 - Kenly, NC

Last weekend was the Southern National 150 with the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour way east in Kenly, NC.

After a long hike across Interstate 40 Friday afternoon we nestled into the Wyndham Hotel around 11:30 PM and settled in to get rested up for the next day. Our hotel was a little further from the racetrack than normal, so when we finally made our way to Southern National Raceway Park all of the teams were already unloaded and beginning to prep their cars for practice.

The devotional this week for the teams was from the book of Lamentations in the Old Testament...God's grace being new to us everyday. It is refreshing to know that every day we wake up is a new day. Our mistakes, temptations, misjudgments, and errors from yesterday do not have to follow us around...because God's grace is fresh if we open our lives to Him.

As Michelle and I walked through the pits posting the letters we had some really good conversations. We were also encouraged to have a few people comment on the previous weeks letter that we posted. We never really know if people are stopping to take the time to read the devotionals, or if they are just cluttering their tool boxes.

As the afternoon progressed we had some uplifting exchanges with some, and opportunities to encourage others. It was really a fun day.

The driver introductions were conducted a little differently this week. All of the drivers were paraded around the track in the back of trucks, similar to the driver introductions that you may be familiar with in the Nextel Cup Series. That being the case I had a very limited amount of time to pray with each driver before the race. Half of the drivers I prayed with in the bed of the pickup trucks in groups of 2 to 3, the other half I rushed to pray with as they strapped into their cars.

When all was said and done we found ourselves at the end of another safe night.

We have two more races with the NWSMT this year. Pray that God will continue to funnel through us at the last remaining events of the season.

Caraway Speedway Southern Modified 150

For our third event within eight days we returned to Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, NC.

The race was Saturday evening so we hit the highway right after work Friday afternoon...eventually rolling into Greensboro, NC and hitting the sac at about 2:30am. We finally mustered up the strength around 11:00am to roll out of bed and begin to make our rounds and make our way to the racetrack. We arrived at the facility about 30 minutes after the gates opened as the teams were offloading from their haulers and setting up.

The devotional we posted this week drew from a passage of scripture in Ephesians 5, expressing the magnitude and depth of God's love for us, and in turn how we should "love like that". I love how "The Message" described God's love for us, 'His love was not cautious, but extravagant'. Michelle helped me post the letters again at each team's hauler, and we were able to open quite a few conversations in the process of doing so.

Throughout the day at each track we visit, we experience one continuing love/hate relationship. We love to look forward to meal time, but hate to look forward to eating a steady diet of concession stand food! We were blessed this week to be treated to a freshly prepared meal straight off of the grill of one of the teams. If you have ever had to base your nutritional well being on what you can order from a concession stand you'd understand what a blessing this was! (No disrespect to the men and women who very graciously work the stands at the various racetracks we visit, they are all awesome individuals).

As the afternoon progressed, a member of the community and I carried over some previous conversations regarding a lifetime commitment to Christ, and he made the commitment to follow Christ with his life. Praise God!

Just prior to the race I walked out onto the front straightaway to pray with our drivers as they were lining up their cars on the track for the start of the race. At Caraway, I would typically do this during the fan autograph session, but since that was not taking place at this particular race that was the most feasible time for me to be able to pray with each driver. Just as I was beginning to pray with the last driver on the line I heard my name summoned over the P.A. to head to the start finish line to present the invocation.

We have developed somewhat of a relationship with the track announcer at Caraway, and whenever we are present he invites me to present the invocation...I'm quite honored with that and gladly oblige.

The race was again another smooth one, with minimal incidents throughout the 150 lap race. God's hand has definitely been watching over our drivers, crewmembers, and officials this season.

This weekend we head to Kenly, NC for our next event at Southern National Raceway Park. This race is the furthest from home for us, as we will be logging about 1300 miles round trip. Pray for God's continuing safety and provision as we make this trip...and that we would be vessels of His love and Truth.

Ace Speedway :: DMC Auto Exchange 150

Today we were at race two of our double-header weekend at Ace Speedway in Elon, NC.

After using yesterday to regroup from our 13 hours at Martinsville we headed to the track ready to be at it again! We made it to Ace just after 11:00 AM as our teams were unloading and beginning to prepare for practice. Once we settled in Michelle grabbed the letters and I grabbed the tape and off we went to post our second devotional for the weekend.

Being that today is Labor Day, in today's devotional I shared from the wisdom of King Solomon and his thoughts in finding joy in our toil on earth. Later in the day I had a crew member stop us and thank us for the devotionals at the track...and that he always looked forward to reading them. That really blessed us to hear.

The day was a lot more relaxed that Saturday and Michelle and I just hung out for the post part, and found various conversations as the day rolled through.

We were the third race on the schedule this evening, so during one of Ace's preliminary races I began to walk through the infield praying with each driver as the prepared to get strapped in. This is always one of my favorite times of ministry at the track...and I also believe it is one of the most meaningful times to the drivers.

Tonights race was much cleaner than Saturday's as we ran 150 laps with only one caution for a single car spin. Everyone was able to roll their cars onto their haulers in one piece!

I did learn a valuable lesson tonight. When you are attempting to congratulate a driver in victory lane wait until after the celebrating is complete! I found myself in the midst of a cola and Gatorade shower! Live and learn!

Tomorrow we return home to TN...and I must say with all of the miles we have logged over the course of the past two years it is by God's gracious hand that we have never experienced any troubles on the highways.

We'll be home for a few short days before we saddle up and head back east to Caraway Speedway for next Saturday's race.

Martinsville Speedway :: Whelen Made in America 300

Our double-header weekend kicked off Saturday in Martinsville, VA at Martinsville Speedway for the Whelen Made in America 300 (a combination event with the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour).

We arrived at the track just prior to noon, arriving to a very busy infield. There were 53 cars on hand attempting to qualify into the 43 starting positions available to them. Upon arriving Michelle helped as we began to walk through the garage area posting our first devotional of the weekend on the Southern Modified teams' pit carts. The devotional shared on the topic of us finding our ability to accomplish and overcome things in our lives through Christ...not on our own apart from Him.

While Michelle and I travel with the Southern Modifieds, there is another organization that ministers to the Northern Modifieds, Racing With Jesus Ministries. Dan and Don with RWJM had planned a joint chapel for our two communities to be held just prior to the drivers meeting on Saturday. Don's message extended the hope of salvation to a community still healing from the circumstances of the past few weeks (Dan led us in a time of prayer and I presented the afternoon's scriptures). Around 40 of us gathered together for the service...and one young lady committed her heart to the Lord following the service later that afternoon.

Following chapel was the drivers meeting to which the remaining activities of the day were laid out to the large field of competitors. In an end to the meeting I led the two communities in prayer.

As the afternoon progressed the field was narrowed down to the 43 teams that would start the race and the cars were lined up along the front stretch for a fan autograph session prior to their driver introductions. During the introductions, Dan, Don, and I stood behind the stage to pray with each of the 43 drivers following their introductions.

Throughout the race there were a few accidents that warranted a few trips to the infield care center for a few various drivers, but we praise God that everyone that was brought in walked out that evening.

It was a very long night, as we finally left the track after midnight...but I can think of few other places I'd rather be!