His plan vs. my plan
Ever since I was six years old, I’ve loved car racing. As a kid I would spend hours, upon hours, upon hours in the sand box with my hot wheels. Some kids built sand castles; I built race tracks in the sand. I would get chore money every week for mowing the lawn and cleaning the downstairs bathroom and every week I would hop on my bike and ride up to Walgreens to by two more 1/64 scale NASCAR hot wheels. In 1998 I had all 43 cars that participated in the Winston Cup series that season and all 43 were raced around the tracks which I built in that sand box. Racing has always been a big part of my world.
In March of 2001 I was introduced to one of my Dad’s friends, friend who raced a super stock out at Colorado National Speedway. My Dad walked me up into that shop, introduced me to Bill, the driver of the car and Bill’s first few words to me was; “Alright, well son, do you know what stagger is on a racecar?” “Nope.” I said. And so he grabbed his coffee mug, dumped it out, rolled it across the table and it turned in circles in a counter clockwise rotation (left). And he went on to explain to me how the same setup is applied to a racecar to help it turn left…and that is where my passion for making a career out of NASCAR racing began.
In August of 2002 I moved to Phoenix AZ and spent a year and a half down there attending a tech school. When it was all said and done, I left with a two year degree in automotive and diesel technology with one plan in mind, to work in NASCAR. But there was a problem, NASCAR was probably the most unpopular sport in Colorado (home state) and I wanted to make a career out of racing. So, where would be the best place to go to make that happen; Charlotte NC, the center hub of NASCAR racing. At the time I knew two cousins that lived in Charlotte. Needless to say I didn’t have the most confidence in myself to actually get plugged in and make it on to a team.
One Sunday evening in May of 2004 I was hanging out with Bill and we were watching a race. I vented off a bit of discouraging steam to Bill and said, “I just don’t think it’s possible for me to achieve my dream.” As we sat there and watched Dale Jarrett take the checkered flag Bill said to me, “Brandon, one day I bet you will be working for that team right there. I believe in you.” Completely encouraged and recharged, I took the leap of faith and moved across the country to NASCAR central, Charlotte North Carolina.
The shortened version, in January of 2005 I found myself sitting in the office of the guy who ran Robert Yates Racing at the time, (which was the team that Dale Jarrett drove for) and he offered me, Brandon the Colorado kid, a job. He said, “Son, we like what we see in you and we have a position available if you’d like to take it.” I thought about it for about 4.2 seconds and accepted his offer. The prophecy of Bill was fulfilled! I had arrived!
Another shortened version, I along with nine other guys on the team were “let go” in April 2005 do to cut backs and team down sizing. So, that deal was short lived for the Colorado Kid. And here is where I introduce God into the scene. Obviously he’s been a part of this whole thing but this is the first place in my racing Journey that I acknowledged His hands in the whole deal. Motor Racing Outreach held a shop Bible study at Robert Yates Racing two times a month. While I worked there, I attended this shop study. It was there where I first heard about this awesome motor sports ministry. How cool is that, God and racing together, Brandon’s ultimate combination!
After I was let go from that team, I moped around in my little puddle of pity. I couldn’t dare to build up the courage to call Bill and tell him that I was fired from the team. Ugh, that was such a lame time in life. Anyways, while I was hanging out in my puddle, I met a friend. His name was also Brandon. This kid kind of went through the same exact life cycle as me and we both collided right at the same point in life. We shared a bit of bitterness towards our so called “dream.” We were good for each other.
Once we got to know each other he came to learn that I was passionate about youth ministry and said; “Dude! My brother-in-law is the Youth Chaplain at M.R.O. You should come to their youth meeting one time and see what it’s all about.” So, I did, it was awesome and I’ve been going ever since that day in April of 2005.
That entire background story leads up to my original thought that motivated me to write this; God is ridiculous, in a good way. This past Sunday (Oct 5, 2008) at the Church that I now currently work at, I was approached by a former NASCAR driver who I grew up watching. In fact, back in my sandbox days I had two different hot wheels 1/64 scale collectibles that were of the car that this man drove. He pulled me aside at church, put his hand on my knee and said, “Brandon Todd, I need your help man. I don’t know what to do about my son.” Later that afternoon, long after that conversation, it hit me like a ton of bricks; God is ridiculous! I was massively humbled in that moment as I looked back at my life and viewed “the plan” that I had worked for myself and really how lame it was in the big scheme of things. I saw how God orchestrated every detail to get me to where I was that day. From that kid on his knees in the sandbox dreaming to be a NASCAR driver, to having that same NASCAR driver who was represented by those hot wheels, ask me for wise council on how to reach his son. Ummmm God, this is not what I had in mind growing up but it is nine thousand times greater than anything I could have ever dreamed about!
1 Corinthians 9:22-26 NLT
When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.
Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.
