Edwards helps with Young Life

BY SPENCER CAMPBELL
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

BRISTOL, Tenn. – The NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway is known for its racing. Its hot dog racing? Not so much.

But with too many hot dogs left over following his Thursday night meeting, NHRA pro stock driver Mike Edwards held just that. And so, three Young Life members lined Edwards’ garage at Bristol Dragway and tried to outduel each other.

“We have all kinds of things we do with them,” Edwards said. “I think the guy had 12 hot dogs. I think he was ready to throw up after that.”

Of course, competitive eating wasn’t the main reason Edwards gathered Gate City’s and Abingdon’s Young Life chapters into his pit area on Thursday night. Although officially sponsored by Applied Racing Technology, Mike Edwards Motorsports’ pro stock Pontiac has a more distinctive logo on its hood. A sponsor that pays exactly zero dollars for such prime real estate: Young Life.

According to its Web site, Young Life is a Christian organization that attempts to introduce young people to Christian values. The program in 2007-08 had more than 100,000 kids involved in its weekly meetings and 4,639 ministries around the world, including chapters in Bristol, Gate City and Abingdon.

“I got involved with them through my partner, Roger Stall,” Edwards said. “He has a Christian foundation that gives a lot of support to their organization and is just a big believer in what [Young Life] stands for. He’s all about helping young kids and giving them a better opportunity in life. And the ultimate goal is to say something to them that might change their life and lead them to Christ.”

During every stop on the NHRA circuit, Edwards invites the organization’s local groups to his pit stall. Along with his wife, Lisa, and sister, Marilyn, Edwards sets out video games, reaction-based games, food and drinks. After the fanfare, Edwards speaks to the youths about making proper choices. Participants are rewarded with small prizes if they make the right decisions. 

“I didn’t know much about Young Life at all,” Edwards said. “My partner [Roger Stall] explained it to me and then I got to digging into it. They’ve been around for over 50 years. It’s a well established organization and it’s a great, great way to get your kids involved in things that are positive and things that can make your future go well.”

At Thursday’s meeting, 35-40 Tri-Cities kids piled into Edwards’ stall. At Indianapolis, the meeting brought in 125, and at Dallas another 200.

“Young life has it’s club meeting once a week,” Edwards said. “So we have out own meeting once a week. We’ve been doing this for several years now and it just gets better and better and better. ... It’s a good deal.”

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