Ryan Elliott, clutch specialist on the Zantrex-3 Top Fueler driven by Dave Grubnic, walked into my office this morning with the following words on a sheet of paper. He wanted me to read it over and let him know if it needed to be published here. I think Ryan’s story is not so much about loss as it is hope and honoring a friend and I feel obliged to share it…

After attempting probably 60 times to write this, I realize that no matter what I say I can not express the loss of my friend Eric Medlen. Eric impacted my life in so many ways and I am truly sorry that I didn't get to tell him that. I will never forget the first time I met Eric when he was getting his A/Fuel license in a car that I was working on. To me he was larger than life; he walked into the pit and I was awe struck. The prestige that came along with him and his job at the time with John Force Racing still intimidates me. I left that day with a new friend and role model. From that time on I looked up to Eric so much and for so many reasons.

Whenever I needed advice, he was there for me. When I felt overwhelmed, he reassured me. He had the most addictive smile and personality that the world has ever seen. When he made the transition from a clutch guy to a driver, he gave me hope that someday I could achieve the same. He jokingly autographed a hero card for me when he first started driving. I laughed and said thanks and I cherished that so much. I taped it to the cabinet in the racecar trailer and I have taken it with me everywhere I have traveled since. Eric and my crew chief Jon Oberhofer are two people who I look up to every minute of my life and to who I try to prove myself everyday. I hold them both in such high regards that I feel that if I make them proud I am succeeding.

I was lucky enough to receive some of the last words Eric spoke before his crash. Right before his last run he came over and said "Hey, how far back are you guys?" I replied "Right behind you" before he got into that car. It was a brief and casual conversation and I wanted to ask him to get dinner and talk sometime soon. That was five minutes before his car started and five horrific seconds later I watched from the starting line and realized I was losing my friend and role model. I keep replaying those events over and over in my head now and I realize that two of my biggest regrets in my life are not telling him what a positive impact he has had on my life and taking "tomorrows" for granted. I beg everyone to always remind your significant others how much they mean to you. Tell your children or parents that your world revolves around them. Tell your friends how much better your lives are because you have them to call at the end of a bad day. I didn't and in five seconds I learned what it's like to live everyday with that regret. I am just one of thousands upon thousands of people that Eric touched. I pray that Eric knows how special he was to me and the rest that have been blessed by him. Eric is such an inspiration to me and I have felt so lost over the past week. I can only imagine what his dad, John, JFR, and the rest of the many blessed friends of Eric are going through. I wish with every breath that I take that I could do something to help console or take away the pain of this loss.

I know if I could accomplish half of what Eric did in his life I would be lucky. If I could be a fraction of the person Eric was I would look back and consider my life a success. This is not a goodbye letter because I know he lives in all of us and he will look down on us and take care of us. I saw him last night in a dream and when I feel like I can't take another step I close my eyes and he is there smiling. If you think I am wrong just close your eyes and say Eric … he is right there. Thank you so much, Eric.