Special Section
basis, he originally wasn’t planning
to race at the East Coast Nationals.
That changed Friday afternoon, as
Grothus was at his family’s race shop
preparing his Indocil Art Hayabusa
when he realized the event was in
the middle of a lengthy rain delay
that would push qualifying over to
Saturday afternoon.
“Next thing I know I’m checking the
clutch on the Pro Mod, we’re firing
it up and it just got the juices flowing,”
Grothus said. “I just looked at my wife
and said, ‘Hey, we gotta go.’”
He loaded up the motorhome, and
along with his brother, Bradley, and
his young son Graham, made the
995-mile drive to GALOT Motorsports
Park. They arrived just in time
to miss the first qualifying session,
then Grothus ran a smooth 4.14 in
the second and final session to
qualify No. 4 of four bikes on the
grounds. When he tried to hop it up
for the first round of eliminations,
he hurt a piston after the 330-foot
mark and fell to Paul Gast.
“But that’s just part of it. That’s part
of the story,” Grothus said. “It’s what
makes winning so much sweeter
when you actually do it. We’re pretty
down right now, but you’ve gotta keep
it in perspective. We’re healthy. The
bike is a little hurt, but it can be fixed.
“I just love the sport, man,” Grothus
concluded. “I love the time with my
son and my family.”
When Grothus and the 250-plus other
racers made their way to the staging
lanes to make a pass, they were
greeted by God Speed Ministry lead
chaplain Renee Bingham and South
East Region chaplain Tammie Smith.
“It feels wonderful to be back,”
Bingham said in the staging lanes
as she waved to racers. “It feels like
home. This is the best medicine.
We’re thrilled to see everybody and
thrilled to be doing what we were
created to do.”
Due to social distancing, Bingham
and Smith weren’t able to approach
racers for a pre-race prayer unless
it was requested. The duo also found
other ways to serve the PDRA racers
from a distance.
“We had T-shirts made with a
prayer on the back so that we’re
covered in prayer, but also so the
racers can read it and they can
still experience prayer even while
social distancing,” Bingham said.
“Chaplain Tammy had signs made
with different messages on them.
My voice is a little scratchy
because I’ve stood back and
yelled best wishes and blessings
to racers.”
Bingham, always one of the first
people on the scene to offer
comfort to racers and families
during difficult times, closed with
one simple statement.
“God bless everybody, stay safe, and
one day normal will be back.”
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