PHOTO : RICK BELDEN

D . I . COLUMNIST

about me ?” or “ How can I be a blessing to someone else today ?” These are the two questions I would like you to search your heart about as you read through this column .

As racers , we all want to win . Winning is fun and everyone certainly enjoys a win light here and there , but what happens when winning becomes everything ? Not only at the races , but in life we must be careful that winning does not become more important than our relationships and friendships . I have seen many fall as a result of putting too much importance on the win . How about putting more importance on what we leave behind each and every day ?

OK , so you get to the racetrack , have the fastest heads-up car , are cutting the best lights and feel like today is your day ! First round comes up and you have the advantage by a mile ; your confidence is at an all-time high . You stage the car , let go of the trans brake button and sit there watching your opponent drive away for the win . Your car has had a malfunction and you have lost . Now what ? Bend the steering wheel ? Say some choice words ?

Here is where your character is tested . You see , you wanted the outcome to go your way , and now that it hasn ’ t it ’ s time to decide if the day was all about you or are you going to be a blessing to your competitors . The hardest thing for pride-filled racers to do is express humility in defeat . Usually their mouth gets in the way .

Antron Brown is a great example of humility . Although no one wants to win more , he accepts defeat in humility and keeps pressing forward , all while encouraging his competitors . He genuinely wants them to do well . So even though he did not win a race , he still goes out of his way to make people feel blessed . And when he does win , he accepts in humility while still building others up .

People may say , “ well , that ’ s just not me ,” but I say no . That means you just don ’ t want to change ! Antron ’ s attitude is one of choice . I ’ m sure there are times he wants to lose it , but he chooses to stay humble and to keep a good attitude , and when his team struggles he chooses to build them up and encourage them . You will have to make that choice to be a selfish winner and sore loser or humble winner and gracious loser .

I have always said that people will never remember how many trophies and victories you have , but they will remember YOU ! Your character , conversation and conduct . Parents , you have a responsibility to your children to show them right attitudes . Not that our emotions won ’ t get the best of us from time to time , but let ’ s make sure we get right back on track and throw off those negative behaviors and attitudes . Racing can have some pretty intense moments , but let ’ s try to not let those moments define us and change us for the worse . And it ’ s not just racing , but in our everyday life as well .

Here is a question I would like all of you to consider : How do you make people feel ? We should always leave people better off than we ’ ve found them . But many of us are like a monster truck – we destroy everyone in our path and leave destruction . So , is it going to be all about me , me , me ? Or maybe , just maybe , you could start putting others ahead of your own selfish interests and enjoy the day and the people you are blessed with . The choice is yours to make .

Email Tommy at tommyd @ dragillustrated . com

October 2018

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