Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Photo: Atlanta Motor Speedway
FootAtlanta Motor Speedway's Thursday Thunder returns to the "Thunder Ring" on July 8 for a sixth dose of short-track racing action and Halloween in July at the racing facility.
Week six of Thursday Thunder will feature Halloween in July, including trick-of-treating on Atlanta Motor Speedway's frontstretch, in addition to tights points racing and record-setting performances. The action will feature seven classes of Bandolero, Legends and Thunder Roadster racing on Atlanta Motor Speedway's "Thunder Ring," a quarter-mile oval located on the frontstretch of Atlanta's 1.54-mile quad oval track. In addition to the on-track showcase of speed and racing precision, each week of Thursday Thunder includes family concourse activities, grandstand games and an autograph session with the stars of Thursday Thunder.
Halloween in July at Thursday Thunder
Halloween returns early in 2010 at Atlanta Motor Speedway for "Halloween in July" during Thursday Thunder's sixth week of action. Race fans are encouraged to celebrate Halloween early with Atlanta Motor Speedway and dress in Halloween costumes for the event
Halloween in July will feature a costume contest with a prize for the best costume. Children will be invited to trick-or-treat for candy during the Thursday Thunder autograph session on the Atlanta Motor Speedway frontstretch. The autograph session will feature Thursday Thunder's Morley Company Outlaws division, currently led in points by Madeline Crane who has posted one win in 2010.
In addition to Halloween in July and the Morley Company Outlaws autograph session, week six's entertainment will include the National Anthem performed by Julie Edmondson of Senoia.
Dixie Home Crafters Semi-Pro Points Tied Through Six Races
Points races remain tight at Atlanta Motor Speedway's Thursday Thunder, but none more so than the Dixie Home Crafters Semi-Pro division. After completing six-of-10 2010 events, Garrett Smithley (Peachtree City) and Mike Weed (Franklin) are tied with 538 points each.
Remarkably, the two leading drivers have combined for just one win in six events – a week two victory by Weed – a testament to the competitive parity in the Dixie Home Crafters Semi-Pro class. Smithley has three top-five finishes on the season and has finished in the top-10 each week, while Weed has finished in the top-five on four occasions, but failed to finish in the top-10 once. Each driver has an average-finish position of 4.8.
With just four races remaining in 2010, points are becoming more precious as each driver battles for their first-career Thursday Thunder championship and each is expected to jockey for the upper hand in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, points battles also remain hotly contested in the OCP Angus Farms Pro, Thunder Roadsters and Young Lions classes.
Donald McIntosh (Dawsonville) claimed a week five victory to extend his points lead to 15 marks over the OCP Angus Farms Pro contenders, now leading second-place Jimmy Henderson (Conyers) with 582 points to 567.
While Skip Nichols (Albany) claimed his 28th-career victory in week five's Masters feature, setting the Thursday Thunder all-time wins mark, a sixth-place showing among Thunder Roadsters allowed Brian Meredith (Locust Grove) to jump to nine-point advantage. Meredith now holds 573 points to Nichols' 562.
Sean Rayhall (Winston) holds a 22-point advantage in the Young Lions class after winning a fender-banging affair during week five. After making hard contact in the race's first lap, Rayhall was the benefactor of a later collision that collected second-place in points, Mason Massey (Winston). With Massey finishing sixth after the accident, Rayhall's fourth win of 2010 extended his points lead by 16 points.
The History Maker: Nichols Set to Match Second Thunder Record
After claiming Thursday Thunder all-time wins mark with his 28th-career victory during week five, Skip Nichols (Albany) is again being watched to make history on the "Thunder Ring."
With four-career championships, Nichols needs just one more title to match Doug Stevens – the man whose win total he just overtook – for the most championships in Thursday Thunder history with five. By competing in two classes in 2010 Stevens not only have a chance to match the mark, but to set the record with six titles if he finishes first in both divisions.
Nichols currently has a generous points lead among Masters competitors with a 34-point margin, however he trails first place in the Thunder Roadsters division by a slim nine points.
In addition to setting the mark for the most championships in a career with two 2010 titles, Nichols would also become the first driver in Thursday Thunder history to claim titles in two divisions in the same season. Dwight Pilgrim previously finished fourth in the Masters division while claiming the 2007 Thunder Roadster title, the previous best showing in two classes resulting in a title, while Brian Weimer finished third and second, respectively, in those classes during the 2007 season.
Featuring a full slate of short-track racing, Thursday Thunder is an afford ably-priced activity that offers something for spectators of all ages.Tickets are just $5 for adults and $1 for children 6-11 (ages 5 and under are free) for each evening of family fun and grass-roots racing. Gates open at 6 p.m., heat races start at 6:15 p.m. and feature races start at approximately 7:50 p.m. For more information about Thursday Thunder, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211 or visit http://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/
THIS IS THE ARTICLE POSTED ON THE ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY'S WEBSITE.
I am still so grateful to have had the opportunity to sing our National Anthem at the raceway and for the Gwinnett Braves this past summer, but also to sing "God Bless America" and the National Anthem for my town here in Senoia Ga. I post this not just because I am honored to be picked out of many who tried out, but to say that during my quest to do this, I was being selfish and only had one motive in mind. I wanted to get the glory. I wanted the praise. I needed to 'feel good' for doing something that brought others pleasure.
I wrestle daily with my selfish desires and motives. Even though I may do something good for someone else my reason is not just to make that person happy or bring them joy. My motives are purely humanistic. I act out of my flesh and not the Holy Spirit that should be guiding my thoughts and actions. I understand that we need to feel love and acceptance, but to try and 'do something' for someone else simply to earn their praise could lead to major let downs if they don't respond in the way we feel they should. (when acting in our flesh)
This is a daily constant struggle for me. I go into deep despair and depression at times. I am so new to this issue of acceptance. I know I don't have to do anything in my own power to have acceptance from God. He supplies my needs. He is my daily bread. He gives me living water. His word feeds my soul and He meets me right where I am at. He accepts me as I am. I don't need to perform to be loved and accepted by God. I just have to accept his Grace and love for me. Simple concept, but still a daily battle I wrestle with. I came to accept Jesus as a young 13 year old girl. I am now 33 and still am trying to understand God's grace and his love for me. So I will continue the quest just in a much different way than before. I will still perform. I will still sing, but for the one who gave it all to me anyway. There is an old hymn I still love to hear. One stanza goes something like this
"Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou mine Inheritance, now and always: Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
I now know (even though I battle daily with this) and have this truth. I don't have to do anything to gain God's acceptance. He showed me his Grace when he sent his perfect sinless Son to take the sin of each one who believes in him. Grace is not something we earn. It's something God has given us freely if we choose to accept this truth.
This truth of God's grace and love is still new to me yes, but it's in God's word. I was just very stubborn and persistent to live life in my own power instead or resting on Him. Life is hard and we all want to measure up to some kind of standard in this world. We want to feel important in the world we have created for ourselves. The truth at least for me and many of us is that our vein deeds and pride stifle God. He has given us undeserving grace yes, but when we 'perform for others' in our own power then we fail and become discouraged.
I had to be shaken by God literally! God brought me to a place of brokenness where I had to fully put my trust in Him. I was not living to please God. I was living to please man (again still a daily struggle for me). I am holding to this new truth (for me) so I can surrender my fleshy desire to perform for man and seek to do what honors and pleases God.
A challenge for you: I was forced and still am in the process of doing so to look at my past. I could write a book on wearing masks but will post about those later. In my state of confusion and brokenness I cried out to God. I wanted a change in my life. A real permanent change. Little did I know I would be forced to slowly shed my masks. The many I wore (and still do) kept me from being the person God promised I would be. I was not putting my full trust in God. I blamed him and everyone around me for my unfortunate circumstances.
I finally challanged God. I guess I made a deal with him. I said "If you will make me who you want me to be then I will be real. I will take off my masks." He is slowly doing that through a wonderful Christian Ministry through The Exchanged Life Model. Yes I am seeing a Christian counselor, but it was not without a whole lot of arguing with God and stubborness on my part.
Surrender to God. FULLY Trust in him. Ask him what his will is for your life. Ask him what areas of your life need work on and let him guide you. If you need couseling then seek His guidence in that. Christian counseling will give you the truth of God's word. He wants you to be FREE. He wants you to experience the Joy that only he can provide for your life if you will just allow him to. I know that he gives me the desire to sing and perform, but the desire now is to do it to please Him!
He gave us a way out! He gave us a way to be FREE! We can be FREE in Him and rest in His loving arms!
The Angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! (Ps 34.7-8)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. (Prov 3.5-6)
Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. (Ps 37.5)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (Ephesians 2:8)
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