In memory of our very good friend, Rev. Pat Evans

INSIDE OUT

March 21, Tolland, CT--- Have you ever put your clothes on inside out? They don’t feel quite right, do they? Well the same thing happens in our life when what’s on the inside doesn’t match what’s on the outside. Our heart must match our actions. Greetings on the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Did you enjoy the winter Bible Study? We studied only a portion of James but I think we learned some valuable lessons on how and what our faith should look like. If you enjoy studying God’s word in that way you are welcome to join the weekly Bible study I teach. We meet at The Daily Grind Café in Willington, CT. at 7:00 on Tuesday evenings. It is just off exit 69 of I-84, 15 minutes from Stafford Motor Speedway. If you are in the area and want to stop in, call me and I’ll give you the directions.

I hope you remember the characteristics of faith and they will guide you as you continue to walk in the way of the Lord. If you would like I have some bookmarks, that contain the list and Scripture references, drop me a note and I’ll send you one.

Have you ever seen a new shiny paint job on a racecar? You know the ones, they roll them out on opening night and they sparkle under the lights. They look great. That’s fine if the only thing that mattered was the way a racecar looks, but it is not. It is a genuine imitation. It looks and smells like a racecar but it doesn’t run like one. What matters more about a racecar is how it races and that is determined by what’s inside.

I have seen the shiny cars and have noticed that most run in the back of the pack. I wonder to myself if all the work was done on the outside appearance and the engine and chassis setup were ignored. Either that or the driver doesn’t want to scratch the paint. One way or another it looks like a racecar, but it certainly doesn’t perform like one.

How about our lives? Have we spent too much time dressing ourselves up to look good and when the truth is told our inside doesn’t match the outside? We are not genuine.

What do we look for in other people? I think the most valuable thing others can find in us is that we are genuine. The inside matches the outside. We are what we appear to be.

Many times we play games with other people. We say what we think they want to hear, we go where we think they want us to go, we do what we think they want us to do, all so that they will like us or want to be with us. One day our lives will all crumble to the ground because we have not built it on a solid foundation. What’s under the hood doesn’t match what we are showing outwardly. At some point we have to stop living a lie and be who we are. We need to live inside out. Jesus taught about this. He points it out in Matthew:

MATTHEW 12: 25, 33-37, Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

Jesus helps us understand that good produces good and evil produces evil. You don’t get good fruit from a bad tree. A shiny racecar won’t win a race if it doesn’t have the right setup and engine. Let’s not live our lives wearing window dressing with nothing of substance inside. Start now working on making the inside right. If we try to be something we are not we will fail. Jesus said, a household divided against itself will fail. What is in our hearts determines what we are truly made of. What is on the outside should reflect that. When it doesn’t we will fail.

Look at the caution Jesus gives, each one of us will have to account for every careless word spoken. We need to start changing things today. We need to start living the truth, the word of God and showing it to everyone we meet. Jesus reminds us that living this way is the only way good is produced, when the source is good the outcome is good.

Don’t show up at the track with a car that looks good but when the race starts it falls to the rear because it doesn’t have what it takes to run the race. Prepare yourself to run in such a way as to win. Listen to what the writer of Hebrews says:

HEBREWS 12: 1-3, Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Run the race with the right motives, to please God. Endure the challenges along the road remembering Jesus who gave His life for us. Finish the race in Victory Lane because your heart was right and your life showed what was in your heart. God Bless, Rev. Don

THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD 

Weather has already had an affect on our season, we didn’t head to Delaware this weekend. With the snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain that was falling through the day and night on Friday we were forced to postpone our participation in an event down in New Castle, Delaware. Dan and I are not shy about driving in inclement weather but with the way it was going the four hour trip would have grow to ten not to mention the dangerous driving conditions that existed. We will look forward to heading back there in 2008, for now we need to get this snow out of the way so we can begin some racing! 

Saw an article on Ben Dodge, there’s a man who has done it all. I grew up in the same town as Ben and for as long as I can remember his name has been attached to the big three, Riverside, Thompson and Stafford. Ben mentioned the fact that the cars on the track today don’t match the cars the kids are driving. I remember the days of the Pintos, Vegas, Gremlins and Cavaliers. Maybe we need to change the body rules and go back to making the cars resemble a production, stock car. What would it be today? Ford Focus, Chevy Cobalt, Dodge Neon, Toyota Solara? I guess we could use our imagination.

In the article Ben also talked about the value of the Modified Tour and how he thought it was being overlooked. I think he is right. There is a tremendous racing heritage there and I agree, it is being overlooked. I think that might be changing though. Remember to keep Ben in your thoughts and prayers this week, his mom passed away on Saturday, March 17^th. 

Did you see the new TV schedule for HDnet? Looks like I am going to have find out why my cable company doesn’t carry it. Did you notice there were a few Whelen Modified Tour races on the schedule also? Looks like Speed Channel will carry them tape delayed from New Hampshire, Martinsville and Mansfield Motorsports Park in Ohio. It’s three for now but it is a start. I am glad to see the changes and welcome the increased exposure. On the Busch East side twelve races will be televised on HDnet and let’s hope some of them will find their way to Speed Channel on a tape delayed basis. It looks pretty neat to see Stafford and Thompson on the list with Music City, Mansfield, Martinsville, Dover, New Hampshire International; all names I think the followers of the big three recognize. Maybe that will lead to some attention being drawn back to the local tracks.

Speaking of local racing, did you see the trophy for the Whelen All-American series? Pretty impressive! I talked with Phil from Whelen a week or two back and he was excited about the whole deal and thrilled with the trophy. I’ll ask Lenny to include a photo of it.

NASCAR's Mike Helton (left) and Whelen's Phil Kurze (right) flank the new Whelen All-American Series Trophy
(Howie Hodge Photo)
(Click on the above thumb-nailed image to enlarge)

The local tracks are gearing up for the upcoming season. Stafford Motor Speedway announced this week that some personnel has changed and they will enter the new season with an eye on the future. I talked with both Mark and Jackie at Speedway Expo and they are excited about the new season ahead and future of the Connecticut half mile. Rob has moved on to other adventures and I hope things turn out well for him. I want to express our thanks to Rob for all the help and courtesy he has extended to this ministry.

Stafford looks forward to the new race season with an additional title sponsor, Town Fair Tire, as they join Carquest in sponsorship of the racing action. Fresh off their success at Speedway Expo, Town Fair Tire looks to further promote their products through local racing and the Whelen All-American Series. Welcome aboard.

Thompson is anxiously waiting to throw open the gates for some pre-season practice. They announced last week that despite the snow and ice the track is planning on being ready for the March 31^st season starting practice event. Gates open at 11:00 and practice will run 12:00 to 6:00. They have a second practice scheduled for the following weekend, April 7^th with the same format. The traditional season opening Icebreaker is April 14-15, Have your taxes done and be ready to race!

Waterford gets things started on March 31^st- April 1^st, no fooling, the roar of modified engines return to the Connecticut shore. We are still planning on being there at some point during the weekend, so make plans to come out and visit with us.

I can’t help but get excited at this time of the year, my blood gets to pumping, the adrenaline starts flowing, it’s hard to sit still. Drivers start you engines!

Something happened on the way to the presses last week in the checkered Cheers column. The weather was so nice I thought it was May and included the wrong list of anniversaries. I’ll correct that this week, I apologize for the confusion. See you next week, 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***

I apologize for the belated anniversaries, I had May confused with March, Rev. Don.

            March 14

MARK & AUDREY MOCKOVAC- The Danbury, CT based Whelen Modified Tour Media Coordiantor and wife/ Claremont Modified driver (Audrey Stevens) share their 10th anniversary.

            March 17

JEFF & JENNIFER ZUIDEMA- The North Brookfield, MA ProStock driver and wife share their 17th anniversary.

ERIC & CHERIE BEERS- The Northampton, PA Flemington and WMT driver and wife have their 15th anniversary.

            March 19

HAROLD & CINDY BURDICK- This Stafford Speedway announcing team member and wife have thier 22nd anniversary.

            March 20

DAN & LYNN POZZUTO- The VP of Operations for the Saxonburg, PA Ed Ferree corporations including Frankland  Racing Supply rears and Clincher Gears and wife Office manager for Frankland celebrate their 29th anniversary.

            March 21

JACK & BETTY DENNIS- These Appomattax, VA Jamie Tomaino fans and parents of JT fan Laura make it 47 years.

            March 22

ALAN & JEANN COULL- The Norwich, CT race car paint graphics designer and nurse wife celebrate their 36th.

JIM & BERNICE GOLEMBESKI- The brother of Steve, Wall Stadium's winningest Sportsman Modified driver, and wife have their day.

            March 24

DAVE & KYLE MICHEL- This Wall Stadium Modified stand-out and wife share their 15th lap together.

            March 25

J.R. & JASLYN WILLIAMS- This Carson City, NV Midget driver and wife share their 20th anniversary.

***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS*** 

            March 21

ROBERT HUFFMAN- NC Dash Series driver.

KENNY BRACK- Karlstadt, Sweden IRL driver.

RICKY MILLER- Claremont, NH ProStock/NASCAR BES driver.

DAVE & MIKE KIMBALL- These brothers are both Oxford Plains (ME) Speedway drivers.

LARRY McCLURE- NNC team owner.

            March 22

EDDIE BELLINGER- ISMA SuperModified driver from NY.

MIKE CASTERLINE- Tioga/Chemung Speedway driver.

BILLY HAGAN- NNC team owner.

JEFF GADA- Of the famous Niantic, CT racing family.

SHIRLEY DENSIESKI- Wife of Riverhead Raceway's Sonny and mom of former Riverhead Modified driver Ed.

MIKE GEER- Waterford Speedbowl announcing team member.

            March 23

WILLIAM ALLEN- Crewman on the Jim Hawkes Wall Township Speedway Mod.

            March 24

MARTIN TRUEX- Mayetta, NJ NASCAR BES former driver now biggest fan of his son's efforts with the DEI.

SCOTT PRUETT- IMSA/IRL driver.

ROGER MEARS- Bakersfield, CA NASCAR Truck Series driver.

JIMMY MAKAR- Nextel Cup Crew Chief.

CHRIS WOODS- Mass. native, now a driver at Concord Motorsports Park.

KENNY VANASSE- Son of Pensacola, FL fans Keith and Debbie Krodel.

HEATHER AUBE- Daughter of Charlotte, VT NASCAR BES driver NWS crew cheif Jamie and wife Paula is 12.

            March 25

KEVIN CULVER- Portland, OR NASCAR West driver.

TONY SISCONE- Hammonton,NJ retired asphalt Modified driver.

DAVID TOWNS- Albany-Saratoga Speedway driver.

KURT SCHAFFER- Son of Gradnview Modified driver Rick and wife Donna is 14.

AMY BROWN- A daughter of Farmingdale,NJ Dwarf Car driver Bobby and wife Carolyn is 19.

TRACY COX- Dirt and NNC Mark Martin fan from Boyertown, PA, wife of Rev. Pat's cousin Bob.

            March 26

JOHN MARKOVIC, JR.- Mountain Speedway and ocasional NWMT driver.

DOROTHY BEERS- Mom of Northampton, PA Flemington/ NASCAR WMT driver Eric.

JODI PAPALE- Wife of Meriden, CT ProStock/Modified driver Tony.

SHAYNE GEIST- Son of Wescosville, PA Mahoning Valley Speedway driver Todd and wife Karen is 18.

NATALEE JARRETT- One of Hickory, NC based NNC's Dale and wife Kelley's children turns 16.

            March 27

GLEN DAVIS- PitSeries.com Editor, "Busch East Scene" photographer and one of Racing with Jesus Ministries most valuable assets, our webmaster.

ANDY HALL- Formerly of NASCAR, now with the Indy Racing League.

CALE YARBOROUGH- Retired NNC team owner, retired champion and one of the founders of the very first NNC ministry.

RODNEY COMBS- Lost Creek, WV BGN driver.

JEFF FULLER- Auburn, MA born BGN driver.

BOSCO LOWE- Retired Southern Virginia BGN driver.

LYNN BODINE- Wife of Chemung, NY CTS driver Todd.

NICKI STOUT- Neptune,NJ Jamie Tomaino NASCAR WMT driver and NNC's Dupont driver Jeff Gordon fan is 18.

MACKENZIE MICHEL- Daughter of Wall Township Speedway Modified driver Dave and wife Kyle is 7.

*** NEW BEGINNINGS ***

EDIE DODGE- Mother of promoter, director and announcer, Ben Dodge, passed away Saturday, March 17th at home. Arrangements are still being organized and we will post them as soon as we know. Cards of condolence can be sent to Ben Dodge, 11 Christopher Street, Vernon, CT, 06066.

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