Memorial Day Weekend- First time out since the accident

Friday – Hays, Kansas

It was great to be back on the road again with Justin’s parents and Justin’s brother Nick flew out to help us kick off the season. This was our maiden voyage in “Redemption Rig”. The drive to Hays went smoothly although the headwind added an extra hour to our trip. The travel was surprisingly comfortable and allowed us to drive longer distances with the large fuel tanks.

 We arrived at the race track and got settled in to our pit stall. It was thrilling to meet up with Billy Jack and Cathy after a year and a half of rebuilding! We also saw several other drivers from past seasons that were completely shocked to see us and hear our story. After we got the car fired up and went out for mud packing, a giant storm came in and sent everyone running for their trailers. It was a blessing to experience the new tall trailer being able to roll the race car quickly inside with the wing on. After a second try at getting cars back out, mother nature won and the night was called.

Saturday – Jetmore, Kansas

We headed to Jetmore to catch the local town Memorial Day parade. On the way there, we discovered that a tornado had touched down just a few miles outside of where we were the night before. Buildings and cars were scattered and we realized how fortunate we were. The tiny of Jetmore went all out for the Sprint car event including them in the parade along with the military and local businesses.

At Jetmore Motorplex the wind was raging none-stop. This race was our very first National Tour event which hosted many of the world’s best sprint car drivers…basically Nascar on dirt. We quickly got back into race mode and enjoyed the spacious trailer and April loved having the atv to zip around the giant pits and push Justin to staging. April’s mom, Aunt and niece came out from Colorado to show their support and cheer us on.

Justin was in the first heat and for his very first time being back on the track, he pulled the coveted inside pole position! Cool but crazy for just getting back into things. Learning the brand new race car and fighting the high winds was a huge challenge but he was thrilled to be back in the car. He placed 5^th out of 8 guys. He missed the transfer to the A main by one spot but had a good starting position for the B main. Starting mid-row gave him a jolt when 4 cars shot for the same opening but he stayed on it and coasted out without any upsets. Two laps in and hauling…the coil wire broke and sent him to the infield to sadly watch the rest of the race.

 Sunday- Jetmore

After making sure that the car was working again, we were ready for another night of racing.  In his heat race he was doing well but got a little too aggressive fighting the wind tunnel in turn 3 and spun out with two laps to go. The biggest disappointment of the weekend was the pit set up with no loud speakers for announcements and the lack of communication from the division leader. We were so far away from the staging area that it was hard to know what was going on and we missed the B main since we got down there too late. All and all it was a great first time out and exciting to be doing this when we never knew if we’d get this opportunity again. We were honored to be racing with some of the most talented drivers in the country and Justin looks forward to many more nights on the dirt with them.

Special thanks to God for keeping everyone safe and allowing us this opportunity. To Billy & Cathy continued support and friendship. To Nick for his support of my dream. To Mom & Dad for not giving up and believing in this team! And to all of our many friends and family members who have stood by us and pray for us. And to everyone who supported us through the silent auction. We love you guys!

New Justin Wolf Medlock Website!!

We've launched our new website!
It is more up to date, interactive and super cool. We even have a new logo to represent the new image of Justin Wolf Medlock. Sponsors can now enjoy the promotion that they'll receive throughout the site. There is even a merchandise page and videos for everyone to follow.

After over a year of recovering, healing and putting the team back together...we are looking forward to getting back on the track. Our new rig will allow the team to be more efficient on the road and at the race track. Justin the crew are pleased with the equipment and the way everything has come together after a long off season. More than anything, Justin is thrilled to finally get back in the race car.

You can follow us here for detailed blogging of our life on the road, the adventures at the track and Justin's current race stats.

Follow us on Facebook for live postings.

We look forward to burning it up out there!

“Redemption”- Shadow Racing Team’s new hauler!

God Brings Good Out Of Evil

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20

We have really enjoyed God’s surprises during this time of restoration and healing. We’ve had to be really patient and not get ahead of God’s plan. This time has drawn us closer together and bonded us even more to our families. The tragedy made us lean on each other more as we dealt with injuries, doctors, lawyers and liars.

 

It is truly another miracle of how we even came about this deal. After waiting, praying, agonizing, and seeking, for over a year…God has brought redemption! After much searching, dealing and researching…the toterhome was found in Ohio. Justin and Dad flew out over Labor Day to check things out. The amazing thing is how low the miles are and the interior has been completely remodeled. Plus a custom paint job which will soon include Shadow blue/green…bubye pink!

Then we headed out to Indiana to check on a potential trailer deal. We soon found out that it was not going to work for us. But sitting next to it happened to be a brand new sprint car trailer for less money than the one we intended to purchase.

 Wow! It was specifically designed to carry sprints and is absolutely gorgeous!

We look forward to launching our new website soon as we prepare for next season. Special thanks to our family, friends and sponsors who have been by our sides through this healing process. We would not have made it through this ordeal nor come out of everything with our hopes even higher than before if we did not have you all.

  "I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!" Deuteronomy 32:3

How You Can Help Shadow Racing Team

Justin Wolf Medlock

Many of you have been asking how you can help us.
We are now set up with Paypal to receive denotations towards a truck and trailer to replace our rig that was destroyed in the accident.
Spread the word and help us get back on the road!
Thanks again for all of your prayers and support!

Gillette Wyoming- Accident 8/14/2010

Justin Wolf Medlock UPDATE-
Just to let everyone know, we are now released to share our story with the public. Please pass on this inspirational story to as many people as you can to not only share about the awesomeness of our God but to also warn them about the dangers of drunk driving. This will also help us get back on the road. Thanks so much!





Disaster on the Highway

(Click to view any photos at a larger size.)It is an absolute miracle that members of the Medlock family are alive today. On a Saturday afternoon, our team was driving to Gillette Wyoming to attend a racing event. We were all in high spirits after a great night of racing in Casper the night before, with Justin taking his first top five finish.

Our elation in accomplishing a part of our dream that had taken years to cultivate soon turned to devastation when that same dream was snuffed out by one person’s carelessness in only a few seconds. But at mile marker 88 our lives changed forever.
From Justin:
I was heading northbound on highway 59, paying attention to all the cars around me as I usually do, when I saw a Toyota truck heading off the road and then all the sudden jerk toward the middle of the road and into my lane, heading straight for us. Afraid that our trailer was going to blast right through us if we hit head-on, I began pulling my truck to the side of the road, slowing down. The Toyota truck was on two wheels when it passed our truck and slammed into the end of our trailer. This collision pushed us off the highway and caused the trailer to surge forward, smashing us from behind.My truck and trailer then separated, causing our truck to suddenly jack-knife to the left, slamming us into the trailer, which then threw our truck in a roll. I could hear April screaming out prayers to God to help us while the trailer continuously slammed down on top of us, as we were battered and thrown around in the truck. This all happened in slow motion for me, with thoughts of wondering if we’d survive this and here goes everything I’d ever worked for.
From April:
Once we came to a stop, I found that I had smashed my head and face on the front consol. Panic and adrenaline quickly set in. I realized our dog Tazzer had been thrown from truck. Justin yelled at me to get out in fear of explosion because of the gas jugs and race fuel. I fell out of the crushed door’s window and began yelling for Tazzer, seeing him about 50 yards from the crash scene. I ran barefooted through the weeds and rocks, cutting up my feet. All I wanted was to get to him, and when I did, I broke down in sobs, thankful he was alive.

I was overcome by both the carnage and the miracle of everyone being alive. The trailer completely smashed the entire back end and even the cab, leaving only small areas above our heads to survive. Our angels were working overtime.


From Justin:
April was going after our dog, I then wondered where mom and dad were, thinking that they should have been up to me by now to help us. Then my heart stopped when I saw dad’s truck. I cried out when I saw dad, covered in blood, hanging out of the front seat which was now sideways with the door ripped off. I could see where the other person’s truck had started at their front headlight, tore down the side, and then smacked their trailer, snapping it right off the hitch and sending our ATV into a field.

We were then taken to the hospital where I was diagnosed with a broken neck. Each doctor that has seen my results has told me that I could have easily been paralyzed. I was also concerned for my wife, who was covered in dirt and blood. Then we found out how bad my dad was–he had major internal damage and had to have immediate surgery. It was devastating to not only have lost everything I had worked for since my childhood, but also to have my dad being at death’s door while my mother sat in shock as we tried to explain what was going on.
From April:
We had to stay in a grungy hotel with no personal belongings. We had only the clothes that we wrecked in which were ripped and bloody and had only a few items that we scavenged from the truck wreckage. Everything else was locked in the rig in a wrecking yard somewhere. We both woke up around midnight in extreme physical and emotional pain, feeling such sorrow and loss. I never realized how thankful I would be for the hotel’s Gideon Bible. Our dreams, hard work, money, late nights, years of saving, working, planning…all destroyed on the side of the road that day. Years of work— smashed in minutes!

We were trapped in Gillette for days, in and out of the hospital, without a vehicle, waiting on the status of Justin’s neck and also checking on his dad and having to start dealing with insurance and wrecking yards. I was very concerned about our dog, as he was in so much pain and moving slowly. The trailer and truck were obviously totaled, the trailer had to be unloaded into a U-Haul for a long drive home which was a painful, sad trip, as we left our dreams and hopes behind in the wrecking yard.From Justin:
My chest still tightens up when I see old photos of the truck or trailer. I feel like we lost an old friend in the truck and that it gave its life for us that day. And losing the trailer feels like our house burned down.
I am thankful to be alive, but I still spend every night and day thinking about everything that was taken away from me and how—if—we’ll be able to replace it. I often wonder if the woman who did this to us feels any remorse, either for the decisions she made or how she ruined so many lives that day. If nothing else, I can thank God that she is in jail and off the roads so there is no chance for her to kill someone else or their dreams.
From April:
Words cannot explain how this event has impacted our lives in so many horrible ways. I give glory to God alone for rescuing us that day and am thankful to be alive to tell this story.

Praising God for the many miracles that He worked that day and continues in our lives. We know without an absolute doubt that our angels were at work on Highway 59. Please pray for physical and spiritual healing as we navigate this long road to recovery.

2010 Race Results

2010 Race Results

April 16~ I-80 Speedway (Greenwood,NE) ---13th B Main
April 17~ I-80 Speedway (Greenwood,NE) ---10th B Main
April 30 ~ Missouri Speedway (Warrensburg, MO) Rain Out
May 1~ Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, MO) Rain Out
May 1~ Park City Speedway (Park City, KS) --- 9th A Main
May 27~ I-80 Speedway (Greenwood, NE) 9th B Main
May 28~ Junction Motor Speedway (McCool Junction, NE) 6th B Main
May 29 ~ Eagle Raceway (Eagle, NE) 17th A Main
June 11-12~ Eagle Raceway (Eagle, NE)- Blown Engine- Not attending
June 18~ Casper Speedway (Casper, WY) 12th A Main --Wreck
June 19~Sweetwater Speedway (Rock Springs, WY) 15th A Main
Aug 13th ~ Casper Speedway (Casper, WY) - 5th A Main

Wyoming Race Weekend- The best and the worst

Casper Speedway
We pulled into the half-mile semi-banked track with high expectations for the night. This was our first race with the Thunder in the Hills 360 Sprint division. Justin started 3rd row, outside in the first heat for the night. He made quick time of getting into the forth position when a car pushed into Justin and flipped himself over the backend of the #05. This was one of the best heat races that he has driven. The car was incredibly fast and Justin enjoyed riding the cushion around the corners.

Justin finished a strong forth in his heat, which started the A-feature in the second row, third position. He had an amazing start quickly jumping into the competition when the forth place starter dove down and spun out directly in front of the #05.

All in all it was a great night for Shadow Racing Team.

Sweet Water Speedway
Saturday morning we rebuilt the car in the motel parking lot before making the trek to Rock Springs. We pulled into our pit stall with even higher expectations for this night. Justin’s good buddy Rusty drove up from Utah to check out his first sprint car event. He was thrilled to be a part of the team and took part in pushing Justin to the staging area on the quad he fixed up for us. Thanks Rusty, we treasure your friendship!

Justin’s hot lap session was “a taste of heaven” and crazy fast! He started outside pole in his heat race. Four laps into a 10 lap heat race…the car broke. Once again our night was over before we intended it to be. What have we learned from this weekend? It seems now that we are so fast…we are breaking stuff!