| Lyndon Amick lives his life, quite literally, in the fast lane. Strapped behind the wheel of a speeding race car, Amick puts his life in danger every time he drives onto the track.
“Before I get in that car, I pray to God that I have a safe day and that I use my talents to glorify Him,” he said. “That doesn’t mean I’ll always win the race. That means I go out there and give one hundred percent and do the best I can.”
Amick has done his share of winning—and at an early age. In 1996, at just 18 years old, he became the youngest driver to win a race at the Daytona Motor Speedway when he posted a victory in the Goody’s Dash Series. That same year, Amick won three other races on that circuit and claimed the series championship. During the 2000 season, the Mooresville, North Carolina resident won his first ARCA circuit race.
“It hasn’t been easy at all,” said Amick. “I learned rather quickly that moving your way up to the top ranking of NASCAR is one of the toughest things I’ve ever done in my life. The lesson I’ve learned is perseverance. I think God has been teaching me how to handle the whole situation with racing and all the situations that go on.”
Just like the times when a wreck or engine failure keeps Amick from being able to finish a particular race, he’s also experienced thoughts of giving up the sport altogether.
“I’ve thought about quitting at times. If I didn’t have my faith in God I definitely wouldn’t be here today in racing,” said Amick, who continues to race because he understands true success is more than just what happens on the track.
“We’ve had almost all of our guys (on our team) come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. I’m realizing more and more life is about touching people and letting them know about the Lord Jesus Christ and not all winning races.”
Amick has also had plenty of opportunities to share his faith with other drivers, including those who are considered the big names in the sport. That is when Amick is sure to tell them about God’s gift of eternal salvation through Jesus Christ.
“Often I remind myself, when we’re standing in the line for judgement and another driver were to ask me, ‘Why didn’t you ask me about God, Heaven and Jesus Christ?’ what am I going to say? Because I didn’t feel like you would like me if I told you that?”
When Amick was 15 years old and racing go-carts for fun, he never thought about driving racecars for a career and using it as an outreach for Christ. It sure is good to know that God’s plan is always better than ours is.
|
