By Chad Hall
However, NASCAR is not just an entertaining spectacle; it also provides good life lessons.
2. Go Slow to Go Fast
At first glance, NASCAR seems to be all about speed, with cars frequently exceeding 200 mph. But what's often missed is the methodical effort that goes into traveling at such incredible speeds. Between races, shops are full of mechanics and engineers who do lots of testing, pore over data, make myriad calibrations, and then test the adjustments before doing it all over again. They take the slow time to get things just right, which results in a much faster car come race day.
It's helpful to remember the motto "go slow to go fast." When we're tempted to rush from one opportunity to the next, recalling our values, considering our life goals and prayerfully discerning direction can feel like moving in slow motion. But these practices enhance our progress through life because they enable us to make choices that stick and that reap long term rewards.
You don't have to be a fan of auto racing to know about NASCAR. What started as moonshiners tinkering with their stock cars so they could outrun the law is now the world's fastest-growing spectator sport. Today races are held throughout the U.S. as well as in Canada and Mexico, and most are televised to millions of viewers at home. It seems that a lot of people like to watch cars go fast!
However, NASCAR is not just an entertaining spectacle; it also provides good life lessons.
1. Going in Circles Does Have Meaning
There's a joke among racing detractors that a race is just 40 cars each making a left turn, then another left turn, then another, then...well, you get the idea. But in NASCAR, each lap around the track counts for something and builds toward an eventual finale. Race fans notice the small changes and minor wins/losses with each lap. And drivers know that each lap is crucial because it determines the position for the next lap, and so on.
When we feel like each week is just like the last, we can lose sight of how our daily efforts lead us to the next thing, which will then lead us to the next thing, all accumulating into a life well lived. A circular life requires making the most of each moment because of how it fits into the larger scheme.
2. Go Slow to Go Fast
At first glance, NASCAR seems to be all about speed, with cars frequently exceeding 200 mph. But what's often missed is the methodical effort that goes into traveling at such incredible speeds. Between races, shops are full of mechanics and engineers who do lots of testing, pore over data, make myriad calibrations, and then test the adjustments before doing it all over again. They take the slow time to get things just right, which results in a much faster car come race day.
It's helpful to remember the motto "go slow to go fast." When we're tempted to rush from one opportunity to the next, recalling our values, considering our life goals and prayerfully discerning direction can feel like moving in slow motion. But these practices enhance our progress through life because they enable us to make choices that stick and that reap long term rewards.
