There are moments in life that seem ordinary while you're living them.
Only later do you realize they changed everything.
It was an unseasonably warm evening in April 2023, about a week after our family Easter gathering at my Aunt Kim's house.
She had mentioned that our cousin, Kyle, would be racing his Legend racecar at Evergreen Speedway the following weekend and suggested we go watch.
It sounded like a fun family outing.
None of us knew we were about to discover a passion that would shape the years ahead.
We walked through those tunnels at Evergreen State Fairgrounds and as we exited the tunnels, the world around us changed.
The sound reached us first.
The rumble of the engines echoed off the concrete walls, growing louder with every step. You could hear tires gripping the pavement as cars rocketed down the front stretch before disappearing into the corners. The announcers were playing Saturday Night by Bay City Rollers. (A forever favorite BTW). The scene was SET.
Then came the smell.
Race fuel.
Burning rubber.
A hint of hot brakes carried on the evening breeze.
By the time we reached the stairs, excitement had already begun to build.
Step after step, the engines grew louder.
The anticipation grew stronger.
When we finally reached the top and looked out upon the racetrack, it was breathtaking. It felt like our souls quietly whispered, “You’re home."
Legends cars flew around the 3/8 oval below us, the late afternoon sun glinting off polished bodies as they darted from corner to corner. The atmosphere was alive. It was ELECTRIC. It was one of those rare moments that reaches into every nerve ending of your body. Every bit of the moment weaved itself into our core memory.
After we got settled into our seats, I snapped a quick picture of Ben.
At the time, it felt like just another photo.
Today, it's one of my most treasured possessions.
There was a spark in his eyes. That spark. You know those rare moments in life when someone discovers a piece of who they are? That's what I saw.
A 9 year-old boy completely captivated.
From the first lap of practice until the final checkered flag of the evening, he watched every car that rolled onto the speedway. He never got fidgety, never got bored. He was completely locked in. He never took his eyes off the racetrack.
On the drive home, he broke the silence.
"I'm going to do that."
I smiled.
Then he said it again.
"I'm going to drive a race car."
Looking back now...
I think that dream began the moment we stepped through those tunnels.
From that day forward, Ben immersed himself in the racing world. Before long he knew the names of drivers from across the country. Even today he'll start talking about racers I've never heard of and somehow expects me to know exactly who he means.
That first season at Evergreen was truly unforgettable. That summer changed our lives completely. We will always remember the summer of 23'.
We were just spectators, but Ben wanted to be part of the action. Since he wasn't old enough to race, he decided he was going to learn how to flag. He started off with the ones sold at the track, but after a while he wanted real flags. After some pleading, I got him a set of miniature genuine race flags. Last season, he was gifted with his first set of regular sized flags (thank you Tanya Williams!) and now his mini flags are for the mini flaggers in training. (Cousin Cruzan)
For the last four seasons, rain or shine, he's stood along the front stretch proudly waving his flags. Around Evergreen, many people know him simply as "Flagger Ben." The official flagger has even joked that one day Ben will replace him. (We Love you Flagger JD!)
Not long after, Ben discovered quarter midget racing, and our family's racing journey truly began.
Now Ben is twelve years old.
Next season he'll be thirteen.
The little boy who once sat in the grandstands envisioning this moment is finally old enough to climb into a Legend race car. And I believe in my heart of hearts he will go down as one hell of a wheelman. He is already one hell of a kid.
And to think all of this began on one warm April evening. One evening out of our entire lifetime led us to this amazing wild ride. That folks is a once in a lifetime. And to say we feel blessed is an understatement.
Ben is ready to be part of the action. And he is going to be. Because when Ben puts his mind to something, the universe rearranges itself and makes it happen.
