Drivers keep grip on wheel, faith

John Milburn

Thursday, Oct. 4, 2001 | 10:06 a.m.

It doesn't tell him his speed, track position or oil temperature. But for Jeff Gordon, the information is at least as important.

"I have fought the good fight," it reads. "I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Be safe. I love you, Brooke."

The verse is from 2 Timothy 4:7. The sentiment is from his wife.

"My wife writes down a verse before each race and tapes it to the steering wheel," Gordon said. "Prayer's a powerful thing. When you have God in your life, I think it gives you a peace in life or death situations."

Bobby Labonte offers a simple message to those riding his bumper. The familiar "John 3:16" anchors the right rear of his green and black Pontiac.

They are subtle examples how the NASCAR community keeps the faith.

In the past year, drivers have been challenged to hold on to that faith with the deaths of four comrades and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. But drivers insist their beliefs provide stability and answers to life's difficult questions.

"It keeps their feet on the ground," said retired driving star and current team owner Richard Petty, whose grandson, Adam, was killed in a race car last year.

After the death of his father in February during the Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt Jr. took comfort in prayer.

"You've got to have something to lean on," Earnhardt said. "You can let things either strengthen you or turn you the other way. I chose to believe even more in the Lord."

David Smale, communications director for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, said faith and driving are a natural fit.

"A lot of the culture of NASCAR is Southern - the Bible belt," he said. "A lot of people grew up around racing, they also grew up going to church on Sundays, and that's definitely part of the tradition of the culture."

Gordon came to his faith well into his racing career. He did not go to church as a child or live in a family centered on faith.

"I always believed in God, told myself that I did, but I didn't really know what I was saying," he said.

He became curious about the faith of other drivers and visiting with Motor Racing Outreach founder Max Helton helped him find his own. That was also about the time Gordon met his wife, who shares strong Christian bonds.

"We pray and read the Bible every night," Gordon said.

Prayer is visible at the track, with pit crews huddling before the green flag drops.

Others sustain their faith with the chapel services the morning of the races - a place the late Dale Earnhardt could often be found.

Rookie Kurt Busch said having his faith and the fellowship with other drivers serves as a calming influence on Sundays, when they gather for prayer before putting on their "battle suits." He doesn't worry about the dangers.

"I just race as a I know how to race and I believe everything will take care of itself," Busch said.

Gordon said putting his faith and family ahead of his work runs contrary to the belief that athletes and professional have to be 100 percent dedicated to their job to win.

"I think if you are happy at home, you're happy about yourself and the choices that you make," he said. "It allows you to be more focused on what you're doing when you get into your job."

While the Gordons can be found front and center at the garage chapel each week, others use it as a refresher.

"If I feel like I'm heading off in the wrong direction, then I might go," Earnhardt said. "I haven't really changed the way I am, what I do. Sometimes there are things I do that maybe I shouldn't be doing."

Gordon admits that he is not the same person he was 10 years ago. He has found his faith and knows that driving is his job, but it comes down the line from his relationship with God and his family.

"Racing is not the most important thing in my life," Gordon said.

Smale agrees. The prevailing attitude, he said, is that they are not drivers who are Christians, but Christians who happen to be drivers.

"A Christian is who I am. My job is what I do for a living," Smale said.

Drivers say that Earnhardt's death in Daytona had many questioning their faith and wondering about their own mortality. Those thoughts were rekindled on Sept. 11.

"A lot of the time he tests us and tests our faith," Petty said. "It's like he says, 'Here's a flat tire, how you going to fix this thing, guys?"'