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

©

Monster

Mesh TM Filter

HONDA

4 BARREL

BILLET

12AN & 8AN Fuel Rail Largest on the Market

BLOWER HATS

Our CUSTOM

Made Manifolds Set Records!

WORLD’ S

EXCELLENT FOR EFI

Largest Stocking

Distributor

NEW

Excellent Durability

Monster Mesh TM Filters

Quick Disconnect Bypass

Precision Jets

EFI Injectors, Lucas Metering Units, and all makes of Pressure Relief Valves need 3 micron protection, but 3 micron filters plug up too quickly, so most racers use 10 micron, which is too coarse. We made this new element for NASCAR Cup cars: 10 micron premium paper top layer to take out 95 % of the dirt, with a 3 micron precision Fiberglass lower layer. Details: Kinsler. com home page.

10 / 3 Element

Tel: 248-362-1145 Handbook / Catalog at kinsler. com

Huge amounts of premium quality filter media for minimum pressure drop.

Read This

Kinsler. com

sales @ kinsler. com

DragIllustrated. com | Drag Illustrated | 63

®

Precisely Repeatable High Speed Bypass

Kinsler Leak Tester Check engine leakage; barrel valve setting. Most accurate and repeatable on the market

Custom Size Nozzles

Troy, Michigan USA