| | So this afternoon we leave for the first race of the year in Great Falls, Montana. What was supposed to start in January, which got postponed till March, which got postponed till April, is now going to start halfway through May. I've been working hard on car, driver, sponsors and it has felt like an itch in my brain, as if I have something important to do but can't quite remember if it is done or not - like a dripping faucet for 8 months. I wonder if this psychological buildup is good or bad. Maybe I am just thinking too much. I've been wondering what my competitors will bring, how they will perform. I have to admit I have been thinking about who I will have to beat, their driving styles, and how I can counter their moves. Should I race like them? Should I be calm, amped up, psyched, stoked, smooth? Should I just save the car and try to make it through the weekend so that my new shiny baby will live to race another night? Or should I run it like a rental car since we built it to race and win races?
All this is wrong. There is only one driver who can beat me - Smokin Joe. Racing is a sport where men (and women too I guess) challenge themselves by pushing a car to the absolute limit. It has developed into a favored form of entertainment. But when it gets down to brass tacks, it is about the man, the team, the car all going around the track as fast as possible. If victory is your highest definition of success, you will be a loser more often than not. But, if finding that sweet spot of performance where you have given 100% is your definition of success, then success is truly in your hands instead of the hands of fate. I find myself at smokinjoeramaker.com looking at all the pictures of our crazed smiles in victory lane. 31 times we have hoisted the trophy and given the checkered flag a ride in our sprint car. I can only think of one time where I was sure I was going to wreck, but I made the pass for the win. Only once, out of 31 times, has giving 110% payed off. But I can think of countless times where it hasn't paid off; where I have tired too hard and ended up with a busted race car.
With all this in mind, I know how I must be when I get to the track. I will be in the same mind-set as when I go to the gym, or to the foothills or the river for a run: Determined to leave all the games and stress and press and pomp of life behind and find that mind clearing place where it is just hard work, sweat, a pounding heart, and freedom to stare in the face failure with unflinching resolve and fearless peace because I know that I am there to find my limit and thus find a new definition of myself. That is the place where I am most me, and where I am the best me. That is victory.
|
| | Posted 5/15/2008 9:10 AM - 27 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
- recommend
  - recs0
- share
- email
 - sent0
|
