By Deb Wuethrich
The sport of racing most known to fans today on a national (even international) level didn’t start out with big grandstands and multiple paved tracks across the country. The organized form of racing we now know began on a beach, in Daytona, Florida.
William H.G. France founded the National Association for Stock Car Racing (NASCAR) in 1948 to organize and promote stock car racing. While tracks existed throughout the country, largely in dirt form, each provided different experiences and inconsistent rules.
What Mr. France did was take a sport that had some early roots of back-room dealings and even the running of moonshine and legitimized it all into an organized sport and business enterprise with consistent rules. I’ll bet he and the France family never imagined at the time what a big deal it would all become.
After a time, those involved knew what to expect when putting forth a race entry. Of course, the sport evolved into a massive enterprise involving teams, drivers and sponsors. Rules can change, but in today’s top racing, everyone understands what is expected as competitors race to become victorious and named champion at the end of the season.
What does racing have to do with faith? The growth of the sport rose up in the Bible Belt South, from states where people had strong faith roots and church backgrounds. They may have loved speed, but many were well-grounded spiritually.
Racing ministries have long traveled with drivers and teams to venues across the country. They are present to pray at the beginning of major events as well as attend to personal needs at the track.
I once interviewed members of Motor Racing Outreach IMRO), a team of chaplains and who set up their “church” on the infield of a major track in Michigan. It was Friday before a race, qualifying day, in the early 2000s. I found the MRO staff working in several areas. The lead pastor had just assisted a driver who had experienced a family emergency. He was off providing faith support.
As a chaplain showed me the family compound at the center of a lot full of motor homes, she said many team members’ and drivers’ children would spend the day there during Sunday’s long race so adult family members could be trackside with their loved ones.
NASCAR Champion and TV commentator Darrell Waltrip’s wife Stevie, often taped scripture verses on the dash of cars getting ready for a race as an encouragement. She and others also prayed for the protection of competitors before every race.
Any fan knows that in a sport as fast-moving as auto racing, accidents are sometimes going to happen. We can’t say for sure God is a race fan, but we know He is a people fan. He created us. He supports us. And He loves us. Maybe by faith, we can also believe God enjoys watching us follow and enjoy the sport of stock-car racing. After all, He promised to be with us, whatever we do, wherever we go. Even at the track.
