A Difficult Time

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 Midgt 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

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