On Racing's Biggest Weekend, Take a Minute to Slow Down

This is the biggest weekend in motorsports. The Grand Prix of Monaco in the morning, the Indianapolis 500 in the afternoon and the Coca-Cola 600 at night will make up a day that race fans dream about all season long.

But as we embark on racing's longest day, it is also important to slow down and reflect for a moment and remember a few heroes.

This will be the first time in 66 years that the defending Indy 500 winner will not be in the field to go for a repeat. This year's defending champ is Dan Wheldon, whose life was tragically cut short due to a vicious crash in last year's season finale at Las Vegas. Wheldon, known simply as "Lionheart", won last year's centennial edition of the Indy 500 in spectacular fashion, passing the wreck car of leader J.R. Hildebrand in the final corner of the speedway. This was also the Englishman's second victory in the most storied race in motorsports.

A picture of Wheldon from last year's win will be on all of the tickets for this year's event. Wreath around his neck, milk in his hand and a bright smile on his face, just how race fans everywhere will remember "Lionheart."

The other reason to pause this race day is to remember the reason why we are racing at all.

Memorial Day weekend is not only a time to watch racing, barbecue and go to the beach. It is a time to remember all the brave men and women who have given their lives in service to our country. It may sound cliche, but freedom does not come free and without the sacrifices that our soldiers and their families make, we would not have the freedom and liberty we enjoy on a daily basis.

This weekend is all about spending time with family and enjoying some burgers, some hot dogs and some racing but let us not forget why we are able to do these things.

God bless Dan Wheldon, his wife Susie, and his sons Oliver and Sebastian. This weekend cannot be an easy one, seeing all the tributes and footage of Dan's Indy wins. May they finally have some sense of closure when this year's race is finished.

And God bless the servicemen and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States and all of their families. Without them, there would be no Indy 500, no Coke 600, and no family get-togethers.

"...that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that Government of the people, by the people and to the people shall not perish from the earth."

-Abraham Lincoln