It's "silly season" in the IndyCar world. I'm sure there is a reason it's called that, but I've never looked it up, and since it doesn't matter for this post, I'm not going to worry about it now. :-)
However, even if I don't know where the term originated, I know what it is... It's the time when drivers look for seats on IndyCar teams. It starts mid-to-late in the racing season and lasts until all the seats have drivers with contracts. Sometimes it lasts until right before the next year's season starts.
There is always a lot of speculation, rumors, and gossip about where drivers will go - who will stay in their spots, who will move to a new team, and who won't get a seat and will have to find another arena if they want to keep racing.
One rumor that I heard during this year's silly season really made me think.
First, you need to know an IndyCar driver I've followed for several years now. I first interviewed him when he was a rising star in Indy Lights (now called Indy NXT). I was extremely impressed by his personality, his dedication to his family and the field, and his heart for God.
IndyCar isn't exactly a Christian-friendly arena. In my understanding, it's not that the drivers are opposed to Christianity; it's just that not very many are Christians, or at least express it if they are.
Then comes Sting Ray Robb (and yes, that is his real name). He is not only a Christian - he's very outspoken about his faith. He has "John 3:16" somewhere on his car and/or helmet for every race; his social media posts are as much about his faith as about IndyCar; and he's not afraid to share what he believes any time he is asked.
Sting Ray just finished his fourth season at what many consider to be the highest level of racing in the U.S. It's been one thing after another. It seems as soon as he gets momentum going, he has a mechanical issue or someone wrecks his car or he gets food poisoning and has to race in an adult pull-up (yes, that really happened).
As each season has ended, I have wondered if he could possibly get a seat for the next year. After all, the game is about winning, and it's high stakes. Millions of dollars go into these cars, the equipment, the suits they wear, and the training they have to have to race at this level. Team owners not only want, they need winners to stay in the field themselves.
Unfortunately, Sting Ray hasn't been winning. He's been surviving.
And that's not enough.
But for three years, he has gotten one of those 27 spots, even against the odds. Kimmie Serrano, his "momager," has kept him in the fight through her hard work and great marketing skills. Other family members and his manager have been key players. Some would call it luck or chance.
Personally, I call it God.
Back to the reason for this post - and what's being talked about during silly season this year.
Though Sting Ray has denied it, the gossip is that he has the financial backing to buy his seat for next year. (Yes, that's one way a driver gets a seat, though that's not all... the team owners still have to believe in the driver to give him a contract.)
Not only does he supposedly have the support to potentially get a seat, even though his record is, unfortunately, not the best, but the rumor is that he has 15 million dollars' worth of said support.
When I heard that figure, my first thought was, "Man! That's a LOT of money. That $15 million could go to so many charities, churches, medical centers... Is it really okay for that amount of money to be channeled into one man getting to drive a race car for about 15 races each year?"
But... I believe in Sting Ray. I believe he's where he is because that's where God wants him to be.
This caused a dilemma. How could I possibly reconcile these two things? Or was it even possible to?
Then I realized. What is $15 million to God - for the God who literally made everything?
It's nothing.
There's a parable in the Bible about a shepherd who lost one of his sheep. He left the rest of his flock, 99 others, to go find the one.
How much were 99 sheep worth? I'm sure it wasn't the equivalent of $15 million. But it might have seemed that much to that shepherd.
In the parable, Jesus is the Shepherd, searching for the lost sheep. I know that in my own life, I've run from God - well, not so much God, but church, community, worship, and everything else related. I've seen Him bring me back to Him more than once. He has shown up in so many ways that literally amaze me when I think about them.
So, this is the conclusion I came to. IF we believe that God is in charge of everything and thus has an endless supply of resources, and IF we believe that He still chases after one, couldn't He do that in this situation?
What if there is one driver, crew member, team owner, or fan who would never have heard about Jesus if Sting Ray hadn't been there? I feel there are probably many more, but even if it was just one, wouldn't $15 million be worth it to bring that person to the grace, peace, and love that only Christ can give?
Maybe $15 million is a small price to pay for what could be happening behind the scenes.
Does this mean I believe that Sting Ray will definitely get an IndyCar seat for next year? I hope so; I really do. But he might not.
I do believe that God has Sting Ray in His hand, and wherever He sends him, there is a reason, even if it costs $15 million to get him in that one spot for that one person who needs the hope of Jesus.
