Todd DeatonThe thunder of a racing engine – the squeal of tires – the smell of rubber burning – gray smoke billowing in the cool evening air – a race car glistening in the lights as it spins around, drawing dark black, circular tread marks on the asphalt – and the roar of a cheering crowd. Denny Hamlin, in his #20 Chevrolet, who held off a late charge by #17 Matt Kenseth to take the checkered flag in the Diamond Hill Plywood 200, was taking his “victory burnout” after crossing the finish line – not more than 35 yards from where we sat.
Like more than 4,500 other fans, we came to the Darlington Raceway as part of the Bring-A-Kid to the Race rally, sponsored by Raceway Ministries of Welsh Neck Baptist Association.
Twenty years ago, layman Tommy DeWitt envisioned hosting a “Bring-A-Boy” rally to reach Darlington race fans with the gospel. The event has grown in popularity from about 700 to a peak attendance of 11,600 several years ago when the race was still held during the daytime. Leaders changed the name to “Bring-A-Kid” to include the many women and daughters who were attending.
“‘Bring-A-Kid’ was a spin-off from the Royal Ambassador Days held at Furman University,” explains DeWitt, who saw a race rally as another venue of telling men and boys about Christ.
DeWitt shared his dream with the president of the Darlington Raceway, who gave his nod for an evangelistic rally at the foot of “the track too tough to tame,” as it is known by NASCAR devotees.
“It’s a miraculous ministry,” agrees David Dinkins, who was coordinating his first race event as the association’s new director of missions. “The church is truly getting outside the walls through this ministry to reach the world for Christ,” he affirms.
When I took on the assignment of covering Raceway Ministries’ 20th Bring-A-Kid pre-race rally, I caught the spirit of the event and took my 9-year-old son Caleb, an avid Jeff Gordon fan, and my dad, a not-so avid race fan, to Darlington to attend our first NASCAR race.
Morgan Shepherd, driver of the #89 “Jesus” car and a senior veteran on the NASCAR circuit, gave his testimony at this year’s rally, which also featured a pit crew member for ACDelco driver Clint Bowyer and “Noisy Joy,” a contemporary quartet from Black Creek Baptist Church in Darlington. In years past, the Raceway Ministries events have included puppetry teams, clown groups, magicians and bluegrass music – a favorite of many race fans.
Telling about his former alcohol and marital problems, Shepherd urged the crowd, “If you will turn your life over to Jesus, things will change.” He asserted, “I now hate everything that alcohol stands for.”
In a brochure passed out at the rally, Shepherd writes, “Life is always going to be a challenge, whether you’re a born-again Christian or not. When you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior,” he continues, “you’ll have faith in him that you can handle these challenges. He will carry you through.”
Shepherd signed Caleb’s autograph book, and moments after we got home, Caleb was showing it to his mom, along with a race program, the “Darlington 06” matchbox car and headphones that he bought as souvenirs. “He’s a Christian race car driver,” Caleb beamed.
Caleb cheered wildly as his pick, Carl Edwards, driving the #60 car for Henkel Ford, and my favorite, Kevin Harvick, who drives the #21 U.S. Coast Guard Chevrolet, battled for seventh and eighth place in the closing laps.
And while Caleb’s favorite driver, #24 Jeff Gordon, did not race on this night, Caleb did get to watch him take some practice laps for the Dodge Charger 500 Cup race the following day. “Look, Dad! It’s Jeff!” he screamed as we entered the stands. That was enough to make his day, even before the race began.
“Awesome!” is how Caleb describes the Bring-A-Kid to the Race experience – and my dad, perhaps the newest NASCAR fan, and I couldn’t agree more. Bring-A-Kid provides an awesome opportunity to experience the excitement of a NASCAR race with your son or daughter, and at the same time share Christ with someone … along the Way.