As a racing family we spend a lot of time logging thousands of miles as we cross back and forth across the country, setting up and tearing down at each racing venue, stressing over every qualifying position, winning rounds, losing rounds, and of course, always counting points. One race ends, the next race begins and the cycle, at times, seems never-ending.

I find that it is easy to get so caught up in our own busy lives that we sometimes forget about other matters that are important in life. Last week, however, I got a much needed reality check.

Prior to the Richmond race, Fred Simmonds of GM Racing asked me if I would be interested in attending a USO-sponsored promo at the Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital in Washington, D.C. The event was planned for the Wednesday before the race and I would be joining Top Alcohol Funny Car owner Jay Blake and his driver Dave Ray.

We were asked to bring the rig and our Wiley X GTO to have on display in front of the Mologne House, which is located right in the middle of the Walter Reed campus, and we would have the opportunity to meet and greet combat-wounded troops and their families throughout the morning.

It was an awesome opportunity for me and my family -- Toni, Jamie, and Melissa -- to be able to meet and talk to the many brave men and women who have risked their lives fighting for our country's freedom. A lot of the patients were amputees, most injured by IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device or road-side bombs), and were living at Walter Reed Medical Center while undergoing further treatments and physical therapy. Every person had a story to tell, many of them heartbreaking, and every one of them was so proud to be serving their country.

Our Wiley X GTO was a big hit with all of the troops. Most of the men and women that we met wear Wiley X eyewear while serving in the Middle East. Not only does Wiley X make some awesome sunglasses, they also make eyewear for just about any type of extreme condition and sport. I was honored to meet an Army Captain that told me he was wearing his Wiley X glasses when he was hit with shrapnel and injured. Because he was wearing those glasses, and they didn't fail him, he didn't lose his eyesight and for that he will be ever grateful. Now I know why I am so proud to be a part of the Wiley X family.

Well, I could go on and on with all of the different stories, but that would take a long time and I'd never get this blog posted. We found ourselves not wanting to leave the hospital but unfortunately I had to get the rig to Richmond. Once there, our cycle began once again; we set up for the race and tore down after the race, stressed over qualifying (or in our case, not qualifying) and continued to count points.

I have to admit, not qualifying at my home track in front of my hometown crowd was really disappointing but just when I thought that I was having a bad weekend, I stopped and thought back to my day at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. I thought about the conversations I had with the troops and their families. I recalled watching my two healthy children converse and laugh with other soldiers, and then I realized my weekend wasn't so bad after all. Disappointing yes; but bad no. Talk about a reality check!

Thanks for checking in with me and remember to keep our troops in your prayers.

Jim