The month of March is here and we are already several races deep into the NASCAR season. Fans have been looking forward to this ever since the last race at Phoenix in early November. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr held off challengers to win the Daytona 500 to inaugurate the official beginning of the 2023 racing year.
For the uninitiated, there are several life lessons to be learned from this sport. The more we study the drivers, cars, tracks, and rules, the more we can appreciate the specialized and highly competitive nature of NASCAR and learn something about ourselves as well.
NASCAR drivers normally come up through the ranks learning the racing ropes. They must know racing’s rules both written and unspoken. Failure to follow these can result in time penalties or even disqualification.
In addition, older drivers often take younger ones under their spoiler to explain how to navigate the various racetracks on the schedule. Racers learn to draft off of other vehicles and how to pass. They practice in their cars until they become comfortable with the handling and understand their car’s capabilities and limitations.
This aspect of driver preparation can illustrate what happens when anyone accepts Jesus as Savior. He or she learns to live their new life in Christ by reading and studying God’s Word and by spending time in Sunday School and Worship with older believers who can mentor them. New believers take practice laps in their small groups and among their Christian friends learning to trust God and live by His rules.
Another lesson to be learned from the track is the necessity of a good pit crew. As the race goes along, cars need fuel and mechanical attention. Highly trained crewmembers change tires, fill gas tanks, clean windshields, adjust handling, and hydrate drivers all within seconds so the drivers can return to the track as quickly as possible. Many races are won or lost in the pits.
A believer’s pit crew is our church family. We all need help from time to time. Just as it would be unthinkable for a racer to change their own tires or repair their own engine in the middle of a race, believers are foolish to think they have to solve all their problems themselves. New Christians are born again not as orphans, but into church families that can help, encourage, direct, and even repair or correct them. No NASCAR driver would ever think of doing everything themselves and neither should any Christian.
One other intricacy that is not initially apparent in NASCAR is the use of spotters. Although recent commercials would lead us to believe the racers’ safety and success is due to improved rearview mirrors which they sell for your own vehicle, NASCAR drivers have an even greater advantage. Perched atop the grandstands are individuals whose sole job is to keep their driver constantly informed of what’s going on around them.
Spotters let them know when it’s safe to pass and when to block another driver. Their elevated vantage point allows spotters to see the entire track and all the cars on it. When a wreck occurs, spotters can steer their drivers through the mayhem to escape or minimize damage. Spotters are a huge advantage that drivers depend on to run a successful race.
Christians have an even better Spotter. The Holy Spirit not only knows all of our surroundings, situations, and best route to take, He knows us perfectly. He knows our limitations and abilities as well as our ultimate purpose in life. He knows our past, our present and our future. When we are not aware of or even ignore His guidance, many wrecks are certain to occur.
As another NASCAR season is now in full swing, I’m so thankful for my Rulebook, my pit crew, and my Spotter. May you utilize all of these to run your own race well.
Racing to win, George