Since 2002, Andrew Short has been a mainstay on both the AMA Motorcross and FIM Supercross series. Here’s what Short had to say about his faith, fighting performance anxiety and lessons he’s learned from the Bible:

Chad Bonham: How did you get your start in racing?

Andrew Short: I grew up in Colorado. I’ve always loved motorcycles. When I was a kid, it was a dream for me to race professionally but it always seemed like a far off goal. It didn’t seem achievable. Our industry is based in California and Colorado isn’t necessarily a hotbed for racing. Through a lot of hard work and perseverance, I got the chance to race professionally after I graduated from high school. Now I’ve gone through the ranks and I’m living my dream. I ride for a great team and get to race all over the world.

Chad Bonham: Tell me about your faith upbringing.

Short: I grew up in a Christian home and I was always around the church. When I was in the eighth grade, I went to a youth winter camp and I just felt like there was something missing in my life. There’s a void in everybody’s life that only God can fill. Once I realized that and experienced what the Lord can give you, it all kind of clicked. It was that true peace and fulfillment in life that only God can give you. A lot of people look for it in different things. The obvious ones that people always talk about are drugs, sex, alcohol and rock and roll, all of that stuff which is pretty prevalent in the motorcycle racing industry. I started that relationship with God and it’s carried on and has been growing ever since. Everything else would wear out or get old or it was a fad. But God never flames out. His love never goes dull. No matter if times are good or bad, it’s always there.

Bonham: What message do you try to share with fans with whom you get to interact?

Short: In racing, your self worth is always judged by your performance. That’s also true in the real world. If you do good, you’re on top of it. If you do bad, you’re not worth anything. But God loves you no matter what. He gives you that peace. Your life is filled up. No matter how good you do, there’s nothing that fills you up like God does. I encourage people to try God out because once you experience Him, He adds so much to your life that other things don’t.

Bonham: What inspiration do you get from reading the Bible?

Short: (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) always refers to the Bible as your Game Plan or your Playbook, but it truly is. When times are good, God’s there to keep you humble. There is so much knowledge and wisdom in the Bible that you can relate. Even in the hard times, you can always dig into the Word. I always have certain key Bible verses that I’ve memorized or written down. Those scriptures give me that comfort and guidance that I might need in a situation I’m facing. If I didn’t have that, I’d be searching and struggling. When you’re diving into the Word, it seems like all the answers are there. But when you’re not reading the Bible, you more likely to do what’s cool or whatever is around you. The road that leads to death is wide and it’s a lot easier to down it. It might be the easy way out but it never pays off in the long run.

To follow Short’s career, visit his official website by clicking HERE.