I wrote a couple days ago about my friend Travis Rilat's return to Sprint Racing at The Devil's Bowl in Mesquite, Texas on Friday night. For all of us who have been watching his recovery from near fatal injuries last year, it was a very positive night.

This is definitely one of those subjects that I want to share information for all the fans and well wishers but make one thing clear: Travis' great progress is testimony to his heart to stick with a very slow and painful process coupled with overall dedication to his personal fitness through the years.  Not anything I did in working with him over time. He put the sweat equity in all the way along.

The whole experience made everyone believe there is hope for a full successful return to consistent great results. We have prayed, worked out, talked this thing through for 9 months now. He has consulted with Doug Wolfgang and taken it 1 day at a time.  Friday night,  I saw signs of the great race driver in Travis Rilat. It started in the 1st B main 15 laps. He started 3d roll inside. The green flag dropped and he was on it. I could see him starting to get his confidence back as he started to pass car after car to take the lead and head on to take thecheckered flag and get the WIN. I knew right there and then he was back and this was no cross his fingers and hope effort.

He said he felt fine not tired at all and finally felt his body in tune with that race car. We knew it that was key. He started 17th in the feature and from the drop of the green he was on a mission. It was a helluva race up/down in/out passing cars at will.  He even went off the track in turn 2, but brought it back on, and dropped a couple of spots but kept on going. He finally got back on track after a couple of yellows at the end, and finished 5th.

All an all it was a great race for him and I believe he is moving in the right direction of once again being the great race car driver he is.  We have a long ways to go though.  The workouts are gonna get harder and his intensity will improve because he now knows he has still got what it takes to win.  That is what it is all about. Winning is an attitude that has to be earned and learned. In order to do that, your body and spirit need to be in tune with your heart and mind. David did beat Goliath in some ways on Friday evening.  The mighty challenges, like the giant in the great story, will crumble and fall for all of us. Mostly we just gotta stay it another day. Then the next.

 

 

 

Filed under: Motivational Messages • Racing News

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