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NASCAR, Prayer and an Inmate-Turned-Worship Leader

When they step away from the roar of the engines, the hairpin turns and the adrenaline-fueled competition, you might be surprised at how NASCAR drivers spend their spare time.

Furniture Row Racing’s Regan Smith will be driving the #78 National Day of Prayer car at Talladega Superspeedway this coming weekend.

“The Furniture Row racing team has been great in sponsoring a National Day of Prayer car since 2006,” said chairperson Shirley Dobson in a recent interview. “We are grateful to the owner, Barney Visser, his fantastic team and his driver Regan Smith. We hope to continue that relationship through the years.”

Richard Andrew, who leads worship for NASCAR in conjunction with the ministry Motor Racing Outreach, says prayer is always a focus in the drivers’ chapel services—and MRO chaplains will do the opening prayer for each of this weekend's races.

Worship and prayer. Prayer and worship. Twin foundations for men who risk death each time they pull onto the track—and Andrew would know. The singer/songwriter who was named the 2010 CMA (Christian Music Awards) Independent Artist of the Year spends a lot of time in and out of the pit stop with NASCAR drivers.