 What Do Filmmaking and Stock Car Racing Have in Common? Clint Thomas. Clint is a stock car driver who had a plan for his life up until age 36. When he reached that age, he thought maybe he should figure out the plan for the rest of his life. Since he accomplished everything he wanted to in life and racing, he decided to give God the second half of his life and see what could be accomplished. So far that includes partnering with radio stations and Christian films.
Through his race team and marketing partners, who are really partners in ministry, he is trying to bring greater awareness about the body of Christ. But mainly, Clint says, it's about creating a place for relationships to Christ. We met at this year's Gideon Media Arts Conference and Film Festival and, although I didn't get to go for a ride in his car, I did get to talk with him about racing and his work for other organizations. Did you grow up wanting to race cars?
Clint: I was saved in 1983, and it was mostly me planning things with Christ sort of there in the background. My plans went to age 36 because I didn't really expect to live past 36. When I reached 36, it just looked like I had reached all the goals that attainable as far as dollar amount goals. Then I asked, "What do we do?"
Through a chain of circumstances, I met people to help with all these issues I became interested in. Through a friend I met someone at the local radio station. Through that I met Chip Ingram (Living on the Edge) and Charles Stanley. Then I started looking for Christian movies trying to get out of some of the junk that was on, and through that I found Cloud Ten. It made me think about how few people knew about our local radio station or Chip Ingram or Cloud Ten.
I thought about our racing and the equipment we had, and thought I could either race again or sell it. So I decided to do a few races here and there, so why not do some marketing for these groups? I know a little about marketing and advertising from what we do with the car, so I said, "I'll just put their names on the car and see where it goes."
Just through that chain of circumstances and relationships, we really started putting a full effort toward it in 2005. Getting to where we are now, and even being here at the Gideon Media Arts Conference and Film Festival, it's been surprising. It's really Christ leading and allowing Him to do whatever He decides to do with the relationships we develop.
You said you didn't expect to live past 36. Why not?
Clint: That's how I made my goals. When you're 18, you don't think you need to think about living to 60 or 70. If I died at 36 and had accomplished these goals, it didn't matter if I died at that point, as long as I reached what I wanted.
I was at Daytona in February of 2004 and started thinking about the current racing season. We didn't have any sponsorship money and had a great year prior to that. I thought I had attained all the goals I set for myself: I built my own car, I raced a car I couldn't really afford, and the Lord provided. I knew He was providing some way.
 At that point, I said there had to be a deeper purpose if I'm going to do anything. I didn't have any goals past 36, so now what are my goals? That is where all the re-evaluation came from. I realized the reason I didn't have any goals was because past 36 it was all God's time. So the rest of my life is God's time.
I feel like the first half of my life God helped me get where I wanted to be. Now for the second half of my life, I want to know what He wants me to do.
What does the future look like for you? Will you continue to race and partner with Christian organizations?
Clint: As long as the Lord continues these relationships like He does, we'll continue doing our thing. If He decides there's a time to end it, we'll end it and go do something else. Right now I can see that with the relationships that are coming, it could be almost endless what we do. For me, it doesn't matter if I'm showing the race car or attending an event without a race car.
But I am seeing that for our purpose, it does have to be on the track a certain amount of time during the year. It doesn't have to be 30 times, and it could be as little as one. But to be able to promote like we're promoting, it does have to be on the track 3 – 5 times a year to have the connection from the racetrack to the people.
That's how we draw the people in, being on the racetrack. They have a connection on the racetrack and when they come to the pit area, they see this car and the team working. The biggest part of our ministry is how we respond to actions, whether they're on the track or not. Learn more about Clint at his MySpace page. ©2009 ChristianCinema.com | 
