Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, September 27, 1993 TAG: 9309270251
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CODY LOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MARTINSVILLE LENGTH: Long
Pretty standard stuff for a Sunday in Virginia.
There were differences from the typical sermon, though. It was shorter than what you might have heard in most churches - only a little more than 5 minutes long - and it was sometimes hard to hear because of the noise.
A train screeched by, blowing its whistle. An air wrench cried its high-pitched whine. All around was the undulating roar of high-powered automobile engines.
Then there were the people who just kept talking as Helton was preaching. They were the gawkers who wandered up to the open-air assembly. No, they weren't staring at Helton, but at his congregation.
Many of those parishioners are household names. Ernie Irvan, Rusty Wallace, Darrell Waltrip, Kyle Petty, Jimmy Hensley, Morgan Shepherd.
They are Helton's flock - at least for 35 weekends a year.
In a lot of ways, serving NASCAR drivers, crews and families is "not a lot different" than being pastor of a church that stays put, Helton said Sunday just before the Goody's 500 race at Martinsville Speedway.
"I do weddings, funerals, counseling," Helton said, much as he did at the Baptist church he served in Southern California before taking on the Motor Racing Outreach ministry five years ago.
There is no dwelling on the dangers of the work, though.
"Life is full of risks," Helton said in an interview Sunday. Few drivers are killed in racing accidents - "the cars are really well-built" - though there are periodic injuries, he said.
This year, two NASCAR drivers - Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison - were killed in flying accidents, and Helton was called on to participate in their funerals, he said.
Both those deaths were "tough," Helton said, but he and many others are "confident they are with God."
The Sunday services include congregational hymns, and drivers often are called on to participate by offering a prayer or reading Scripture. This day, Bobby Labonte read from Ephesians. Some Sundays, there is a children's sermon, a reflection of what Helton says is a genuine family atmosphere among the crews.
The distinctive green uniforms of driver Bobby Hillin's crew, for instance, could be seen sprinkled throughout the cordoned-off seats set up for the chapel service.
Hillin, along with drivers Darrell Waltrip and Lake Speed, was one of those who encouraged Helton to take on the ministry.
They met the minister when they raced at Riverside, Calif., and talked him into moving east, where NASCAR activity is concentrated. Speed and Waltrip, along with their wives, now serve on the ministry's board.
Before Sunday's service, Hillin said there had "always been a need" for such a ministry. In fact, another minister had been the informal chaplain of the group some years ago but had to give up the work.
It was just a matter of talking Helton into revitalizing the chaplaincy, Hillin said.
Helton, 52, now is president of Motor Racing Outreach, based in rented offices at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
The ministry has an annual budget of $240,000, which supports ministries to Winston Cup and Busch Grand National auto races, as well as power boating events.
No plate is passed, and no plea is made for donations after the Sunday sermons, but drivers and crew members come forward and give offerings as they head off to their cars. There are a few checks, but most of the giving is in cash - from $1 bills to $20s to $100s.
Such individual donations provide most of the ministry's needs, Helton said.
"The Lord has not given a lot more than we've really needed," said Bob Dyar, Motor Racing Outreach executive director.
God "promised he'd provide what we need, and he's done that," Dyar said. "We try to be faithful with that."
But when the ministry asks for commitment from its parishioners, the first thing that's mentioned is time.
To outsiders, the most visible programs are the Sunday morning chapel services, usually held in the garage areas of larger tracks or some central infield location at shorter tracks, such as Martinsville.
But, Helton says, the ministry is successful because it extends beyond that service into other facets of the drivers' lives, even during the week.
There are mid-week noon Bible studies at 30 of the Winston Cup garages, Friday-night Bible studies for families before each race and off-season seminars on such topics as marriage, child-rearing and team relationships.
The sermons and Bible studies are nondenominational and steer away from "doctrinal issues of particular denominations," Helton, who is ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America, said. Many of the drivers and crews are members of churches - Presbyterian, Baptist, Lutheran, Assembly of God, among others - but some have no other religious affiliation.
All of the drivers have attended services at one time or another, Helton said. About 25 of the 34 drivers at Sunday's race participated in the chapel service.
Some of the drivers also ask Helton to have a word of prayer with them at their cars just before the race starts.
"I pray for them to have wisdom," Helton said; not to win, but to perform "to the best of their abilities."
That was exactly what he requested in his closing prayer for the chapel service: He asked God's blessing "not only for safety, but for wisdom to do our duty."
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
by CNB