I realize that this is a Football Blog. But something happened yesterday in the racing world that has impacted millions of people, some of those being close personal friends of the Administrator of this web site. I feel I have to address the situation accordingly and show you my feelings about this topic. Bear with me, as I change the subject from Football to Racing for this one post.

Some say Football games in Hartford are “life and death”, that winning and losing are more important than the fun and educational purpose that High School Sports are supposed to serve. In Racing, “life and death” take on a more purposeful meaning, because anytime a race car driver straps into his or her race car, they really do put their lives on the line to serve a purpose: to give the fans a show and live out their dreams. When they go out and race, they never know when it may be the last time they’ll ever race.

Unfortunately yesterday in Las Vegas, that statement came true. On Lap 12 of the IZOD IndyCar Series finale at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a car slid up the track at close to 220 MPH. That car was in the middle of a pack, racing three-wide with two other cars. Two cars touched wheels and spun out, causing the others in the pack to attempt to check up and get around the accident. Some drivers were able to. But, at 220 MPH, other drivers simply could not. In the end, thirteen other cars were caught up in a horrific melee.Two cars went flying through the air. Fourteen drivers survived with scratched pride, hurt feelings and minor injuries. One driver, sadly, did not survive.

Remember what I said about “life and death”? In this case, death came before life.

Dan Wheldon was a two-time Indianapolis 500 champion. He won the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in 2005 and, most recently won in May of this year, when the leader of the race in the final turn passed a lapped car, a slower car, on the outside. He got caught in the “marbles” (part of the track where drivers don’t usually race and the track becomes “dirty” with no grip) and crashed within shouting distance of racings greatest finish line. Wheldon was nearly five seconds back when the incident occurred.

In the end, Wheldon got by the car of rookie J.R. Hildebrand that day and somehow, magically, led that final lap to win his second Indianapolis 500 mile race. It was the only lap that the Brit led that Memorial Day Sunday. On that day, Wheldon, who was without a full-time ride and leaned on former teammate Bryan Herta to earn a ride for the race, won. That day, he was not a favorite to win the race or even contend. He was the underdog. He proved that no matter how fast the car was or the team that he was driving for wasn’t the best, that talent can somehow overwhelm even the best in sport.

Wheldon had enormous experience and talent every time he stepped into an IndyCar. He was a natural.

Wheldon also drove in his career for three other IndyCar standout teams. He drove most recently full-time for Panther Racing and before Panther, he raced for Chip Ganassi Racing and Andretti Autosport. His most successful season came with Andretti Autosport, where he won the 2005 IZOD IndyCar Series championship. During the 2005 season, he won a record six races that season, including the Indy 500. He had a successful IndyCar career. In 133 career races, he won 5 poles, 16 race victories, made 27 podium appearances and 50 top-10 finishes. He was also a successful driver in the pre-Indy ranks, racing in the USF2000 series, Toyota Atlantic series and the Indy Lights series.

Unfortunately, after yesterday, Dan Wheldon’s talents here on this Earth have been put to rest. And sadly, for future generations of aspiring IndyCar racers, they will not be able to learn from his passion and class he raced everyday of his life with.

Sadly, this accident reminds me of many racing accidents of the past. This reminds me of Dale Earnhardt’s last-lap accident at Daytona in February, 2001. In IndyCar terms, it reminds me of the fatal accidents of Greg Moore in the Fall of 1999 in California or Tony Renna during a tire test at Indianapolis in October, 2003 or even the accident of Paul Dana, which was the most recent IndyCar fatality in Homestead in March, 2006. I remember all three like yesterday. It is hard to forget seeing racers, people you grew up watching and idolizing, being killed. You never, ever forget it.

You can all say that racing is a silly sport, because they go around in circles. Or you can blame the lack of safety in the IndyCar Series for what happened to Dan Wheldon. And you can be “right” on both fronts. Yes, racing does go around in circles and open wheel drivers are at the mercy of horrific injuries when an accident like yesterday does occur.

But unless you are a driver, team owner, team management, staff or the hardcore fan, you will never understand why racers do what they do. They race, not because of money or the popularity, but because they have a passion; a drive to race. They love the feel of speed and the excitement racing gives that other sports simply don’t give.

Racers of today were given their love of the sport because maybe a Grandfather, Father or even a Mother was a racer. Some familes of racers today are second, third, even fourth generation racers. Others got into racing because they saw it on TV, simply wanted to try racing and came to love it. Racing isn’t cheap or easy and some drivers families have sacrified homes, cars, even mortgages so that their sons or daughters and, even themselves, can race.

Racers know the dangers that exist everytime they strap into a race car. It’s always in the back of a racers mind that something like what happened yesterday can happen. But you also have to realize things like this happen in other sports, too. We’ve had deaths in football and basketball, too. It’s just sometimes, those deaths aren’t publicized and scrutinized as much as racing deaths during the race itself are. Why do we love football and other sports in this country? Because we have a passion for them. Other haves the same passion. Racing is no different.

Remember the moral of this story, “life and death”? Maybe in death comes NEW life. From this point on, it’s more of a personal letter to my racing friends and I encourage them to read this and hopefully, understand where I am coming from.

So, to all my friends who race, have raced and will race into the future, let’s have a personal talk about this.

I know the pain you are feeling right now. It’s deeply unbearable and it hurts deep. Some, if not most of you, knew Dan personally. Whether it was through a personal friendship, helping him with his go-karting or just had the opportunity to interact with him and learn from him, I understand you’ve lost a good colleague, friend and brother. It is a hole in the heart and mind that may take a long time to heal, if ever. I know, personally. I’ve lost six family members since 2005 and that pain runs deep, so I’ve experienced your situation and heartbreak.

But ask yourself a question. Even though he has passed on, would he want you to give up your dreams of racing in NASCAR or IndyCar just because of what happened to him?

This answer seems simple. NO, he would not. Because he died doing what he loved doing: racing. Everytime he looked you in the eyes and talked to you, he passed on a little piece of himself. He passed on his charisma, his personality, his class, his flair. Each of you still has a piece of Dan inside of you that no one can ever take from you. You each are Dan Wheldon in so many other ways.

So, in a way, you would disappoint him by giving up and quitting racing, because you all know he wouldn’t want you all to quit on your dreams. He would and wants everyone to move on and race like nothing ever happened. Each and every single one of you can be the next Dan Wheldon. Maybe you can’t be the man himself, but you all learned from the best out there and know what you can do to honor his memory. And that’s racing, racing was Dan’s passion and I’m sure it is your passion, too.

You can also honor his memory by doing what he did and that is passing on your passion to the next generation of racers. I ask all of you, in his memory, to do what Dan did and that is teach. Find a young driver out there, approach him or her and be their mentor. Teach them not just how to drive a kart or a car, but teach them how to race with charisma, flair and class. Teach them how to interact with the public with those same characteristics. Sometimes the best way to honor a persons memory is to spread what they taught you to others. Therefore, his memory will not be of how he died, but more about how he lived.

You guys are the future of racing. You can’t let racing die because of the death of one driver. You carry on the torch that has been lit for you by racings past and present. Sometimes, racing comes at a cost. But you have an undying passion for something you love. My hope for you all is that as we go through the future and whether its win or lose, that you treat racing like your passion. You don’t need to win every race or every championship to make your impact like Dan did. Whether it’s a win, a championship or even a revolution to make racing better or safer; that is an impact far beyond a race win or championship.

You can even honor his memory in a personal way, by being great people and great citizens. You don’t need to be a great race car driver to honor him. You can be a great person by being great with the fans and great with the media, because fans drive the sport forward. And more personally, you can be great like him by being a great Father or Mother; Brother or Sister; family member and friend. That, also, will honor his memory in a fantastic way.

You guys mean a lot to me and I felt like I needed to get that message to you to never quit and carry his legacy on and create your own legacy. You will make him so very proud of you by doing just that! He will always be with you, in heart, mind and spirit. Never let his legacy and spirit die. That is the victory that you seek when the sun rises and eluminates the darkness you see and feel now. The sun will rise on a better day.

In final, I believe someone up above whispered to J.R. Hildebrand to crash that car in the final turn of the Indy 500 this year. He must have told him he had many more chances to win that race. I believe that same person also knew Dan’s time was coming to come home to his creator and wanted to give him that final special gift of winning that race before he called him home so tragically. In a way, don’t you think that is a little epic? That we were all blessed to see that moment? We still do not know and may never know why Dan was called home with his creator, but there is always reason we just can’t grasp or see. Isn’t it special he is with that same creator that gave him life and so many other gifts? Not just racing gifts, but his wife, two children and other family. Dan was a special gift to everyone he knew.

Remember, the whole story about “life and death”? It has now come full circle. That despite the death of one of your own, you can breed new life, carry on and enjoy a passion.

We realize life is special. Cherish everyday you have with one another. Because you never know, like Dan and all my relatives and friends who have passed on before us, when your time will come to go home.