Racing for Christ

By Lee Warren

Go behind the scenes in NASCAR to see what God is doing in the sport.  

You'll hear from 2011 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne as he talks about the importance of getting his priorities straight before he won that race. You'll see how God used the outreach of the NASCAR community after a tornado in Texas to reach a soul for Christ. You'll learn how close a group of drivers became after getting involved in a Bible study together. And you'll read stories about what God is doing in the garage to change lives. 

But most of all, you'll be challenged to race for Christ in your own life.

***This is a revised and expanded edition. This title was previously released as "Racin' Flat Out for Christ."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lee Warren
• Release date: Sep 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393682981

Lee Warren

Other Titles by Lee Warren  In This Series Mercy Inn: A Christmas Novella (The Mercy Inn Series, Book 1) Comeback: A Mercy Inn Series Short Story Essays Common Grounds: Contemplations, Confessions, and (Unexpected) Connections from the Coffee Shop Sacred Grounds: First Loves, First Experiences, and First Favorites Higher Grounds: When God Steps into the Here and Now Devotionals and Gift Books Single Servings: 90 Devotions to Feed Your Soul Fun Facts for Sports Lovers  Inspiring Thoughts for Golfers Racin’ Flat Out for Christ: Spiritual Lessons from the World of NASCAR The Experience of Christmas: Devotions & Activities for Families Finishing Well: Living with the End in Mind (A Devotional) Flying Solo: 30 Devotions to Encourage the Never-Married Writing Write That Devotional Book: From Dream to Reality Write That Book in 30 Days: Daily Inspirational Readings You can find out more about Lee Warren’s books here: http://www.leewarren.info/books Subscribe to Lee’s email list to receive a FREE copy of his Finishing Well: Living with the End in Mind devotional e-book. You will also receive notifications about discounts on his newest books, and become eligible for random giveaways. Sign up here: http://www.leewarren.info/email-list Follow Lee on social media: https://www.facebook.com/leewarrenauthor https://twitter.com/leewarren Visit Lee’s website: http://www.leewarren.info

Book preview

Lee Warren

Racing for Christ

50 Devotions for NASCAR Fans

Copyright © 2019 by Lee Warren

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

All Scripture taken from the ESV unless otherwise noted. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV® Text Edition: 2016

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture quotations marked (AMP) are taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

This book was previously published as Racin’ Flat Out for Christ (2012).

Second edition

This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy

Find out more at reedsy.com

Thanks to the many NASCAR drivers and people in the industry who made time to talk to me for this book about how Christ is transforming you. Your faith is inspiring.

Special thanks to NASCAR driver Michael McDowell who made some of these interviews possible. Your passion for Jesus is contagious.

Contents

Preface

Introduction

Trevor Bayne: Offer It Up

Experiencing God as a Team: A Shared Testimony

Dale Earnhardt Sr.: Giving in Secret

Sam Hornish Jr: Known by Our Fruit

Adam Petty: A Legacy of Good

JGR Bible Study: Devoted to Scripture

David Reutimann: Truth on the Roof

Morgan Shepherd: Pay Attention

Tony Stewart: Honor Your Elders

The Pre-race Invocation: Acknowledge God’s Might

Darrell Waltrip: Put on Humility

Stevie Waltrip: Persevering in Prayer

Bobby Labonte: Knowing God Leads to Trusting Him

Mortality: Life is but a Mist

Josh Wise: What Really Matters

Gil Martin: Walking in Wisdom

Andy Petree: Mutual Spiritual Encouragement

Nicky Terry: Love Thy Neighbor

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: Partnering in Ministry

The Pressure to Perform: On Being Transformed

Motor Racing Outreach: Ministry of Presence

Kyle Busch: Speaking the Word

Eric McClure: God is on Our Side

Blake Koch: Keeping God First

Mark Martin: Race Unto Others

Cale Yarborough: Fixing Bicycles

Justin Allgaier: How Will They Hear?

Michael McDowell: Trusting God’s Will

Brad Coleman: Strengthened by Fire

Relief Work: Walking in Love

Carl Edwards: An Attitude of Humility

Ty Dillon: A Change of Perspective

The Waltrips: A Tradition Continued

The Young Guns: Changing of the Guard

Richard Payne: Offering Living Water

Exercising Self-Control: For an Imperishable Wreath

J.D. Gibbs: Storer of Heavenly Treasures

Daniel Smith: Christian Hope

Kelley Earnhardt Miller: More Christian Hope

Kyle Petty: A Clean Slate

NASCAR Fans: Rejoicing in Hope

A Mother’s Request: A NASCAR Sendoff

Norman Miller: Proclaiming the Gospel

Bobby Hillin Jr.: Better Ministry

William Byron: Small Reminders

Donnie Floyd/John Hendrick: Be Ready

David Ragan: Priorities

Stirring Up One Another: The Reason We Meet

Trevor Bayne: Not Wanting

Lake Speed: Gaining Eternity

Other Titles by Lee Warren

Preface

In the early 1990s, I worked for a data entry company and my boss allowed us to listen to the radio with headphones. One day, I was bored with music and wanted information about the first Persian Gulf War, so I switched to the AM dial and landed on a Christian station.

The first voice I heard was Marlin Maddoux. The show was called Point of View and Maddoux’s panel was discussing cultural issues from a Christian perspective. I found that notion to be preposterous, but I listened to the entire program. I tuned back in the next day and the next.

Eventually, I began listening to a program on that station called Money Matters with Larry Burkett. His gentle convictions about matters of the soul captured my attention.

Over the next two years, I listened to numerous other programs on that station. I listened as people called the various programs with health issues, relationship problems, financial difficulties, and spiritual questions about life and death.

Some of the callers were Christians, some were not. But I always had the sense that those who were not believers were being lovingly tugged in that direction by the Holy Spirit. I was one of them. Two years after I started listening to those programs, I became a Christian.

The radio hosts were gracious and loving—as if they were extensions of Jesus himself. I later learned that they were extensions of Jesus. They had the Holy Spirit working through them as they offered love, hope, and redemption through Christ to people who often felt alone, hopeless, and irredeemable.

As you flip through this book for the first time, and then as you dig into it, you may see the name of a driver or somebody else in the NASCAR industry who you believe isn’t a Christian. Maybe you can recall one or more incidents on or off the track that solidifies your belief about that person because surely a Christian would never act that way.

When that happens, I ask that you think about your own life, both before and after you became a Christian, and then cut the person some slack. If you had someone with a video camera following you around to capture your worst moments, you probably wouldn’t always look like a Christian either. I know I sure wouldn’t.

My intention wasn’t to write a book about Christian NASCAR drivers or Christian NASCAR commentators or Christian NASCAR crew chiefs. But rather, it was to write a book about how a holy God intervenes in the lives of imperfect people in the sport of NASCAR. And to point out how biblical principles shine in competition, whether they are exhibited by a Christian or a non-Christian.

I’ve been wanting to release an updated and expanded version of this book for quite a few years because a lot has changed since the first edition was released in 2012. Series sponsors have come and gone. A few drivers have retired—some leaving on their own terms and others not so much. And other drivers have changed teams. So I’m thrilled to offer this new edition.

The first thirty devotions, which I’ve updated, are from the first edition. The final twenty devotions are new to this second edition. As I revised the original devotions and wrote the new ones, I was challenged on more than one occasion to race harder for Christ in my own life. As you dig into this book, maybe for the first time, I pray that you, too, will find it both challenging and faith-building.

Introduction

The second and what turned out to be the final green-white-checkered flag flew with just two laps remaining in the 2011 Daytona 500—the 53rd running of the Great American Race.

On the restart, Bobby Labonte paired up with twenty-year-old rookie Trevor Bayne, who was driving the famed No. 21 Wood Brothers car and he pushed Bayne out to a big lead going into Turn 2. Labonte stayed on Bayne’s bumper through Turns 3 and 4. Behind them, Juan Pablo Montoya pushed Kurt Busch and they began to make up ground on Labonte and Bayne.

At the white flag, signaling one lap to go, the four competitors formed one line. The rookie led at the start/finish line, but in this era of plate racing at Daytona, second place was often the place to be with one lap to go because the second-place car could use the draft to slingshot around the leader.

Coming out of Turn 2, Carl Edwards and David Gilliland were running fifth and sixth, respectively, and they were closing on the four cars in front of them. It had all the makings of a thrilling finish.

Going into Turn 3, Gilliland pushed Edwards past Busch and Montoya on the inside and they caught Labonte and