JEFF, WHY DO YOU RACE?
By Jeff Knight on Reflection
After 19 starts this year I've sat back and began reflecting on why I race. My list begins here and as I reflect I hope it gets longer and more in depth. My buddy from Guam, Kenny, calls me an adrenaline junky. There may be some truth to that, but it's more than that. I want to really define why I race and what the greater meaning is. Here goes...
- I race because when I was a kid my dad would take me to the races in Monroe to watch.
- I race because my dad would spend Sunday afternoons watching NASCAR on TV.
- I race because growing up my dad raced Motocross and I have that competitive element in me.
- I race because when I was a kid I raced BMX bikes and got trophies nearly every weekend.
- I race because I took my wife to the sprint car races at Skagit Speedway nearly every week when we were friends in High School.
- I race because after we were married I would take her to the season opener at Evergreen nearly every year.
- I race because I knew one of the drivers: Roger Habich.
- I race because I became a Jeff Gordon fan when I watched racing on TV because he was number 24 and that was my number in BMX.
- I race because I needed to get involved in something that broke bones much less frequently than Motocross.
- I race because my friend Roger asked me for help 7 years ago.
- I race because Roger made Jesus the Lord of his life less than a month after we started together.
- I race because Roger's sons, Jayce and Carter, are important to me.
- I race because nearly every person on the team with Roger found Christ.
- I race because of family's who've been reached through the race outreach. People like Dan and Shelley Johnson, Curley who now leads Young Life in Monroe and dozens of others.
- I race because I desire to see racers find eternal life.
- I race because I've made a commitment to reaching people with the message of Jesus through living life with them not only preaching to them.
- I race because I like people to smile.
- I race because I want kids to know they can live their dreams.
- I race because I want to be remembered as a person who lived a balanced life between work and play.
- I race because it charges my batteries.
- I race because it is a privilege many people never experience.
- I race because I want to tell them what it is like.
- I race because it is hard to do.
- I race because it scares me.
- I race because it is thrilling.
- I race because it is dangerous.
- I race because my wife supports me.
- I race because life is a race and believe or not there are many life lessons hidden on a race track.
- I race for the speed.
- I race because of the team work.
- I race because the Apostle Paul called life a "race."
- I race because it is challenging to get it all right in one race.
- I race because it makes me smile.
- I race because when I get out of the car, no matter how I finished, I have this sense of great relief that my life means so much more than performing on a track.
- I race because I love God and want racers to know that not all people who love God fit negative stereotypes.
- I race because I've won in everything I've done.
- I race because I like to win.
- I race because winners have to know how to lose to learn to win in life and cars.
- I race because I'd be a cranky man if I didn't.
- I race because it makes me workout to stay in shape.
- I race because racing has been a part of my life since I was a child.
- I race because I meet great people.
- I race because there is controversy to solve.
- I race because I have health and fitness. It'd be a shame to waste my health sitting around.
- I race because it's that place that requires total focus; not thinking of anything else.
- I race because I want my life to be a reflection of everyone who has done so much for me: the Lord, my wife, my family and friends.
- I race to honor them.
