The last short track race of the 2004 season was Martinsville. It could very well have been the pivotal race in the Chase for the Championship. Jeff Gordon has won Martinsville five times. Rusty Wallace can claim seven victories there. It is known as a fender-bender race and often the cars are very mangled when the checkered flag flies.

Jimmie Johnson, who has found himself with numerous troubles in the final ten races, was in the lead at the end of the 500 miles. But, after a short burnout in front of the fans he was given the tragic news that a Hendrick Motorsports plane, with ten people aboard, had crashed on its way to the race. The time of celebration turned quickly to concern. Jimmie was whisked away to meet with the other Hendrick drivers and the famous #48 Lowe's Chevrolet never made it to Victory Lane.

NASCAR drivers and their families live in a dangerous world, driving up to 200 miles an hour around the track every week during racing season. They tell themselves they are prepared to handle sudden situations. Yet, the world was in shock when NASCAR hero Dale Earnhardt was killed on the last lap of the Daytona 500 in February 2001. That same shock had swept across when young Adam Petty lost his life as he hit the wall at Louden, New Hampshire during practice a few short months before.

And now this unbelievable accident was shaking the NASCAR world again. The life of ten people including two pilots was suddenly taken as their plane crashed into Bull Mountain near the Martinsville airport. Their earthly lives gone forever was Ricky Hendrick, son of the owner of Hendrick Motorsports, Rick Hendrick; John Hendrick brother of Rick and President of Hendrick Motorsports; John's twin daughters; and other Hendrick Motorsports employees including their General Manager and Chief Engine Builder.

This famous organization has over 100 Cup series wins with one BGN, three Truck, and 5 Cup Championships. Rick Hendrick is known as a kind, gentle, man and we cannot begin to fathom the depth of his sorrow.Young Ricky Hendrick was a replica of his racing father and greeted everyone with a smile. Via television, many fans were able to witness the joy on Rick and Linda Hendrick's face when Ricky won the inaugural Craftsman Truck Series race in Kansas City at age 21. After a shoulder injury Ricky gave up racing and soon became a valuable contributor to the future success of Hendrick Motorsports.

Losing Papa Joe Hendricks, Rick's dad, to cancer was difficult. Now the grief is multiplied ten times over as they mourn the loss from Sunday's horrific plane crash. NASCAR is a very closely knit family of drivers and teams and they rushed to aid in any way possible. Hendrick Motorsports is not only an organization but also a family within a NASCAR family. They will lean on one another and share their grief together.

In these days of earthly trials and testings we must never allow our adversity to disillusion us or diminish our faith. We can be strong in Christ when we understand He suffered for us when he died on the cross so that we might live with him eternally in heaven.

If you know Jesus as your personal Savior there is life after death. It is comforting to know in the midst of deep pain that this time on earth is not all there is. You can live forever with God where there is no tears and suffering, and that promise carries us through the heartaches of today.