Andy Jankowiak, a driver in NASCAR, gave what might be one of the most memorable quotes in the history of the sport while trying to pull out a major victory at Daytona International Speedway on Friday evening. This is the kind of thing you see plastered on hats, t-shirts, hoodies, the works. In fact, if Jankowiak is good at marketing, he should create merchandise with this slogan on it and rake in some extra money.
During the race, Jankowiak was absolutely determined to do whatever it took to cross the finish line in first place, so determined that while pressing the pedal to the metal he said, “I’m just gonna put my foot on the floor and I’m not lifting until I see God or the checkered flag.”
Man, that is just absolutely bada**. That’s not only a great quote for racing, it’s a motto for all of life. If you aren’t going full tilt, if you aren’t living life to the absolute fullest that you can, what are you even doing? There’s only a small number of years you get to be alive on this earth. Your heart is programmed to only beat a certain number of times before it stops. Why waste a single one of them? How much life can you pack into the small amount of time you have? It’s quality over quantity.
via The Daily Caller:
This is probably the most incredible line to ever be uttered into a race car driver’s microphone during a race. It single-handedly defined the sheer will and determination he felt as the adrenaline rushed through his veins while tearing up the tarmac.
Jankowiak was in the mix in the final lap when he uttered the epic declaration and was at the cusp of entering the Winner’s Circle. The seasoned racer with the need for speed in his bloodline was in third place as the race headed into overtime. He pushed hard to get to the front, and seemed to have his eyes locked firmly on the checkered flag, before Jake Finch inched up and managed to get in front of Jankowiak. Mere seconds later, Finch slammed into the wall. Armani Williams rammed the back of Jankowiak’s vehicle and set off a wild chain-reaction crash that sent cars flying in every direction.
As the crash took place, Gus Dean was in the lead and thus ended up being declared the winner of the race. Jankowiak finished in tenth place, which is pretty far back from getting that big “W” he wanted, but hey, there’s always next time, right? With the kind of attitude he displayed during this competition, there’s little doubt with time and experience he will continue on a path toward victory.
And hey, as a consolation prize, he came up with a truly awesome, amazing quote, a phrase that might end up lasting even longer than his race career. Who knows how many people will take inspiration from those words. He may have inadvertently helped some folks get motivated to make positive changes in their lives.
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