As I sit here with tear-filled eyes, I continue to try and comprehend the unfathomable events of Sunday’s race at Pocono Raceway. The racing community has lost a wonderful person in Justin Wilson.

How can a sport we so dearly love that brings so much to our lives also take so much away? It is something I will try to understand time and time again, and most likely fail at. However, it brings us solace in knowing that JWil was exactly where he wanted to be and wouldn’t have had it any other way.

I first met Justin while in college and instantly knew that he was a special one. Within racing, you will often times find a driver that is self-centered and temperamental or all about the money and fame. Justin was the farthest thing from that description.

I’ve grown up around IndyCar racing, but as time has passed & it’s slowly become my career, I’ve continued to gain a greater appreciation for drivers, crew members and fans alike that make the racing community one giant family.

Rewind to my college internship at Dreyer & Reinbold and allow me to introduce you to the girl that was so new to this sport we love. I felt confident in knowing my stuff, yet look back and realize I had SO much more to learn (and still do). I’ll never forget this tall, lanky driver walking into the shop and introducing himself. We instantly found common ground in knowing that we both live in Colorado and shared a joy and passion for the beautiful outdoors it has to offer.

Once college was over and I was pursuing my career in the motorsports PR industry, I would often times reach out to Justin and continue convincing him that he needed my PR help in Colorado and on the track. He would always respond back and say that we would discuss more once more of a budget was put together (as so often is the case).

Now that I have been with NBCSN the past few years, I have come to respect the media industry in a whole new light and can see why so many reporters, commentators and journalists alike can’t find enough positive words to say about JWil. In this industry, you’re not supposed to have “favorites,” but I can sure tell you he was one of ours. As echoed by so many others, he would never say a bad thing about his circumstances, his day or his unknown career that lay ahead.

I will never forget sitting at home this past winter and seeing a text from Justin come through to my phone. In racing, the future is unknown each and every season to so many. Not knowing if I would be back with NBCSN, I continued to search for additional freelance work wherever I could. In reading Justin’s text, it said “Hi Ashley. It’s Justin Wilson. Just checking in, remind me, where are you working at the moment?” I thought to myself ‘Wow, here is a guy that’s continuing to push for his own work, yet somehow polite enough to even consider me.’ After continuing our exchange, he began to tell me about a company he was looking to start in Colorado that he thought he might be able to use some part-time help with. We ended the conversation with him saying “I’m just trying to help out when I can.” And that right there is exactly who Justin Wilson was, always trying to help and think of others.

During this season’s Iowa Corn race, we were on the same flight home to Colorado and had a nice chat at our gate as our flight continued to get delayed. I was once again reminded that Justin was a racer, but first and foremost, he was a loving husband and father to two precious girls. I joked him when I may once again pass he & JR (Hildebrand) biking up the mountain to Estes Park. He said probably not any time soon, that he was sticking to his family trail rides, since he was so frequently gone from the house nowadays.

I will sure miss seeing that tall, gentle man walking towards me at the gate as we head off to another race. I will also miss not-so-secretly cheering for him behind the wheel; watching him silently, yet fiercely weave his way through the field. From this difficult point moving forward, all we can do is continue to pray and offer support for Julia and the girls. We also pray for JWil’s brother Stef and their parents. The racing community is a wonderful family that is bonded together through triumph and defeat. We will all have to pull strength and love from one another.

One of those famous “looking for work” emails I had sent to Justin received a response back from him that ended with “Keep pushing, Justin.” Friend, that’s what we will all keep doing now. Just keep pushing and remember that mile-wide smile.