Today’s online edition of the Roanoke (VA) Times carries a story on a young stock car racer with a Grace Brethren connection. Here is a part of the story. To read the entire article, including a video clip, click onto http://www.roanoke.com:80/news/roanoke/wb/123529
On Sept. 23, 2006, Late Model Stock driver Jason Lawrence intentionally wrecked racing rival Philip Morris at Motor Mile Speedway to settle a season-long feud. A few days later, Lawrence, of Pilot, was suspended indefinitely by the Pulaski County track and NASCAR.
Now, Lawrence is competing at the Wythe Raceway dirt track in Rural Retreat and other dirt tracks with the goal of restoring his reputation as a clean driver and returning to local racing prominence.
About the time Lawrence started truck racing, he began dating his future wife, Amanda, who led him to Christianity. The two began attending Riner Grace Brethren Church together. Lawrence had not previously been a churchgoer.
“When you fall for somebody you follow them around like a little puppy,” Lawrence said. “It didn’t take too long for me being in church with her to realize I was on the wrong path.”
They married in 2001. Two sons followed, Matthew, now 4, and Devan, 1. Lawrence works as a school bus mechanic for Montgomery County Schools. His wife is an operations manager at First National Bank in Riner.
