2022 PLAYOFF BOUND

TALK ABOUT CRAZY FAITH!

Buckle up, because the 3 team is in the 2022 NASCAR PLAYOFFS! There are 28 races in the regular season which means each team has 28 chances to get into the playoffs either by winning a race or by points. Daytona was the last race to make it into the playoffs where the top 16 compete for a championship. We were 22nd in points so we were in a must-win situation.

A little over two months ago, I listened to a sermon by TD Jakes called ‘It’s a Faith thing,’ and every little thing in that sermon spoke to me. I knew that getting into the playoffs would be ‘a Faith thing.’ I wrote in my calendar ‘It’s a Faith thing’ on every Sunday for the rest of the regular season up until Daytona. The Bible scripture in Austins car was Romans 8:28. I didn’t realize that Daytona was a Saturday night race until it was rained out and pushed to Sunday. After we left the racetrack, a notification popped up and said ‘it’s a Faith thing’ for Sunday, August 28. My heart sank because 8/28 is so special to us. Romans 8:28 is our anchor verse. When life gets crazy, we anchor ourselves with that scripture. ‘And we know that in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.’ All of us were so excited and just knew that God was up to something special.

The week of the race, NASCAR was replaying Austin’s Daytona 500 win which was so special to our squad because it was the first race that Paul was on Austin’s pit crew. Paul filmed pieces of the win and tagged us on social media. He said, “From the moment I turned on the TV and saw our Daytona 500 win recap, I knew we were going to win that race. The goosebumps I felt in that moment was unreal. It was nothing but God showing me that sign.”

Days before the race, I had a FaceTime call with a former NASCAR journalist and dear friend of mine, Mrs. Ronda Rich, and I had told her that I knew we were going to win! She wrote this Faith statement on her Facebook page and I wanted to share it here.

Before the race, I think we prayed three or four different times. We put Holy oil on his race suit and a Bible scripture to protect his car. Sunday at 10:00 AM, the race cars took the green flag for the final race of the regular season. During the race, things weren’t going our way but we kept saying ‘it’s already done,’ and an incredible calmness would come over Mariel and I. With about 25 laps to go, we were one lap down but a caution came out so that put us back on the lead lap. The very next lap, the cars up front started wrecking and it was chaos. It involved every car in front of Austin. Austin went from 21st to 1st in 5 seconds and we were screaming like CRAZY. Then, all of a sudden a major storm came over the racetrack with rain and lightning. We jumped on the golf cart and raced to pit road because we thought they were going to call the race due to weather. We had so much joy because we watched God take Austin from 21st to 1st in 5 seconds and I have never seen a race car do that before. It was like God had His hand on Austins car guiding him to the front. We ran out to pit road and we were so overwhelmed with God’s goodness! I started doing a victory dance and singing crazy Faith. It was the precious hand of God and I know it was because of everyone’s Faith!

Austin, Paul, Mariel and myself have a ‘squad’ text so before the race our chat was going off. Paul was saying, “I know we’re going to win.” Mariel would say, “It is already done.” I would say, “CRAZY FAITH.” This community that God has blessed us with is truly so special. When one person lacks something, the other one steps up and vice versa. We have witnessed Jesus in amazing ways and watched Him do incredible things in our lives. To God be the Glory!

During the rain delay, Austin hung out at the bus. He didn’t like me dancing and celebrating because it wasn’t over but I kept saying, “IT’S A FAITH THING! I GOT CRAZY FAITH!” Before he went out, he asked for prayer one more time so we prayed together and I just looked at him and said, “God said go finish it.”

There were only 21 laps to go and after a 3 hour rain delay, we started back racing. Austin got passed by the 2 car and when the time was perfect he took the lead. With 6 laps to go, we all ran out to pit road and watched the 3 car cross the finish line. It was the perfect scenario! God is just good like that. When His hand is in it, it is perfect! It had been 73 races and almost two years since the 3 car was in Victory Lane. Thank you Jesus!!! If you’re in professional sports, you know how hard it is to win. Especially in NASCAR, because everything has to come together perfectly. The driver cant make mistakes, the crew chief has to make the right calls, the engineers and road crew have to make sure the car is fast, the spotter has to tell the driver the right calls, and you need Jesus to dodge the wrecks.

WHAT A FINISH! WHAT A WIN! It was Bella’s first race and the first time Ace and Bella got to experience Victory Lane. Better yet, we were all together! WHAT A DAY! To God be the Glory!!

Now that were home, God led me to this scripture and I wanted to share it with you all. Acts 20:24, “My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

To God be the Glory! Share this with someone who needs a good ‘crazy Faith’ story! Our God is so good and He makes a way where there ain’t no way! I heard a preacher once say that when you see God do a miracle for someone else that means he’s in your neighborhood and get ready because what he can do for one, he can do for another. We’re all God’s children and He wants to bless us beyond our wildest dreams. The real question is — is your heart open to Him?

Pray with me:

Father, thank you for the breathe in my lungs and for waking me up this morning. Each day is a gift from you and we thank you for it. Father, remove the blinders from our eyes so we can see you and hear you. We know that you are a miracle worker, a way-maker, a life changer, and only you can do the impossible. We ask you to please come into our situations where we think there is no hope and restore our Faith. We thank you, praise you, celebrate you right now for what you’re going to do. In Jesus Christ name we pray, amen!