Jeff Gordon in the Broadcast Booth

Will Jeff Gordon in the broadcast booth bring us closer to the race track or just make us uncomfortable because of his uneasiness in his new role?

Jeff Gordon retired from NASCAR after an record setting career.  He has returned to the world of NASCAR in the FOX Sports broadcasting booth.  Fox has showcased Gordon and is using Gordon to upgrade their broadcast team.  He joined anchor Mike Joy and fellow retired driver Darrell Waltrip.

FOX may be using  Gordon to reach out to fans outside the traditional Southern fan.  Gordon brings knowledge of racing delivered without a Southern drawl.  It has long been difficult to get announcers with great expertise from outside the South where NASCAR was born.

Larry McReynolds talks about this problem.  In McReynold's book, The Big Picture: My Life from Pit Road to the Broadcast Booth, he talks about the problem of his grammar when he first came to the broadcast booth.  FOX provided him with a grammar coach which has been successful in making McReynolds the strong announcer he has become.

Jeff Gordon has broadcast experience developed while he was racing.  He is the only driver to have hosted Saturday Night Live as well as hosting Live!With Regis and Kelly and numerous appearances on various shows.

FOX Sports has great hopes for Gordon's presence at the network.  Robert Gottlieb of FOX Sports said, "Adding Jeff Gordon to the FOX NASCAR broadcast team has immeasurable value.  Outside of his obvious credentials as a four-time NASCAR champion, Jeff crosses over to other sports fans, television viewers and the general pop culture mainstream better than any other racer in the country.  You don't have to know racing to know who Jeff Gordon is and what he brings to the table."

I find Gordon's knowledge of racing and what is happening on the track refreshing.  He struggles more in interviewing drivers and seems uncomfortable in that position.

Gordon's strength is his insight into what the drivers are thinking and feeling as events unfold on the track.

Gordon is sure to develop his expertise as he continues to feel comfortable in his new position.  It will be a benefit to all NASCAR fans when he does.

Kyle Busch Returns to the Scene of His Accident

This week's race at Daytona International Speedway brings Kyle Busch to scene of the accident that side-lined him from racing for many weeks.

Since returning to racing, his life has been on the upward track.  He and his wife Samantha welcomed their son in May.  Last week, Kyle Busch won the Sprint Cup race at Sonoma.

Things haven't started out that well for him this weekend.  During Friday's first practice session, Busch was involved in a multi-car wreck that began with as Busch and Brad Keselowski.  Busch's car was heavily damaged and he was forced to go to a back-up car.  Keselowski was able to return to the track in his car as Busch observed, "He got away unscathed and trashed everybody else's stuff."

Will Busch let it go or will there be retribution during Sunday's race?  

He did show a spirit of gratitude this week by returning to the Daytona hospital where he was treated immediately after the wreck that broke his leg and foot.  He complimented them on the care and expertise shown him during his stay there.  

Is this where we will see the off-track Kyle and the on-track Kyle?  Will he demonstrate the high-spirited and volatile nature we came to expect from him or will he show us the new, and some might say mature, nature that has been evidencing through this year's troubles.

We will check back late Sunday night and we'll all see the results.

Michigan International Speedway Takes a Stand with NASCAR

NASCAR issued a statement on Thursday, July 2, 2015 regarding the display of the Confederate Flag at their facilities and NASCAR events.

Michigan International Speedway signed on in support of NASCAR's stand.

The statement read, "As members of the NASCAR industry, we join NASCAR in the desire to make our events among the most fan-friendly, welcoming environments in all of sports and entertainment."

They went on to say, "This will include the request to refrain from displaying the Confederate Flag at our facilities and NASCAR events.

No doubt, this stand will generate much controversy among NASCAR fans.

I see the problem of one of perception.  In Michigan and other northern tracks, many fans see the Confederate flag as a symbol of what was fought against in the Civil War.  The Civil War is seen as a fight to free the slaves.

However, this perception is not shared by many in the South.  While living in the South, I've heard the Civil War  referred to as the War of Northern Aggression.  That puts a different spin on everything.  That explains the opinion of one NASCAR fan quoted this week as she sat in the infield at Daytona International Speedway.

"We're not flying it for controversy.  Every race, we fly it.  We've got the American flag, the rebel flag, the POW.  It all to me goes together.  Our freedom.  It's Dixie."

But the pro-flag fans have to realize that not all fans feel this way when they see this flag.  It can be offensive and a symbol of repression.

So to NASCAR fans, let's realize our sport is no longer a Southern sport but enjoyed by millions outside of the South.

Kudos to Michigan International Speedway for taking a stand that may cost them fans and attendance at the August race.  However, it may bring in more fans who are happy to see an organization that is willing to take a hard stance because they feel it is right.

Phoenix

Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday, April 10, 2010

The race started with a moment of silence for the West Virginia miners lost this week.

The color guard came from Luke Air Force Base which is very near the race track.

Ken Bower's, PIR Chaplain offered a prayer with a challenge to forgive as we are forgiven.

Dr. Jess McGuire performed the National Anthem on the trumpet and did a great job.

The flyover was 4 F-16's from Luke AFB.

Nice start to the race and the desert looks great.

What is your favorite way to hear the National Anthem performed? I like a group of singers who are singing in 4 part harmony.

The Race Starts at Watkins Glen

Nationwide Race is underway and has been exciting so far.

The invocation was given by Rev. Fife of Bentley Creek Wesleyan Church. The National Anthem was sung by Megan Linville. Megan has a lovely voice, however, the pace of the song was rather slow.

I prefer to have the national anthem sung by in marching band style or by a choir with parts. What do you think?

How could NASCAR improve their opening ceremonies?

Show Begins at Indianapolis

Today we will have the running of the NASCAR race at the track at Indianapolis-the home of great traditions.

The invocation was given by Rev. Howard Brammer. He said, "May our appreciation of liberty equal the bravery of its defenders." Good job but not as exciting as last night's invocation by Mark Wright.

The National Anthem was sung by Casey Jamerson of Indiana. That was followed by a fly-over by T-38 Talons of Randolph Air Force Base of Sn Antonio, Texas.

Nice start for the day.

NASCAR and Christian Ministries

I am very interested in finding Christian ministries that work in motor sports, specifically in NASCAR. I love the Christian message that is always present at the races. The prayer is often given by someone from Motorsports Outreach.

I found this article online called God and NASCAR. But I would like more information.

Dear readers, can you help me out? If you know of NASCAR specific ministries, please let me know at

faithinthefastlane@gmail.com.

Thank you.

Am I Moving Forward In My Faith?

Kyle Busch won the Kobalt 500 Sunday in Atlanta. People in the NASCAR world are talking about the great success Kyle is experiencing this year. Currently he is #1 in points in the Craftsman Truck Series and in the Sprint Cup Series. In the Nationwide series, he is #3 and would probably have won the Nationwide race on Saturday if it had not been for a mechanical failure late in the race.
Kyle changed from the Hendricks team to the Joe Gibbs team for the 2008 – 2009 racing year. Does this change contribute to his success? Is Joe Gibbs able to harness Kyle’s spirit in a way that Rick Hendricks couldn’t? These questions are being discussed and will continue to be discussed throughout the NASCAR
A clue to that question may be something I discovered recently when I found that Joe Gibbs has a podcast on ITunes that is free for downloading. It would be worth your time to access Joe’s talk for the week of March 3. It is titled Fellowship with the Lord. This 3 minute talk gives some insight into Joe’s world of leadership. He tells how he makes decisions in his life. Joe says it is important to look at our lives from the viewpoint of what we are doing for the Lord and not how a step will give us money or fame in the racing world.
You also can get a look into the Gibbs garage by going to the web site and looking at the video message for March 7. I put a link for it in the links section of this blog. The address is
www.joegibbsonline.com

You don’t have to have an IPod to use for the ITunes connection. Simply download ITunes (free from www.apple.com )to your computer and then subscribe to the Joe Gibbs podcast. You can listen through your computer or download it to a CD. This is all free.
Enjoy this personal look into the faith of one of the premier team owners in NASCAR. You also get a look at the Gibbs Garage if you look at the video on line.

Our Purpose

This blog will be a weekly spot for highlighting stories of faith throughout the racing community.

In NASCAR, more than any other professional sport, we see lives of faith displayed. The owners, drivers, crew members, support staff and families spend 36 weeks of the year in the public limelight.

Every week, the drivers put their lives on the line to provide a family-friendly, exciting sporting event.

Many of the owners, drivers, team members and families display a deep faith that guides their lives and gives them a reason beyond simply winning a race for their hard work.

They see their lives as mission-based to share their faith.

The purpose of the blog will be the share their stories and help the readers learn about a side of the racing community not covered in the secular media.

The purpose is to share stories of faith but not to affliate with any specific church or denomination.

Daytona Begins It All

NASCAR has always held firm to family values. This will be displayed in full view during the festivities at Daytona. No event will start without two important events-the invocation and the National Anthem. Both of these may seem routine but in fact they are recognizing that all accomplishments on the track is based on acknowledging our dependence on God and our country.
So when the invocation is given for the Sprint Cup Race and Trish Yearwood sings the National Anthem-remember that we, like all the participants in the race, owe our lives and everything in it to God and the United States of American. God bless America!