DAYTONA (FBW)—Racing fans at Daytona Speedway found not only friendly faces, but also prayer partners in the tent of the Central Florida Raceway Ministry. The annual Christian presence at Daytona, in its 20th season, is a ministry arm of Halifax Baptist Association.

“It is three weeks of one-on-one ministry,” said director of missions Dennis Belz, who worked every day in the Gate 40 RV area. “The world’s mission fields literally come to us during this time.”

The Daytona Speedway provides Raceway Ministries a 10'x40' tent at Gate 40, near an RV lot, containing 1,050 sites, that is consistently without vacancy. Volunteers man the site from daylight into late night. Belz is quick to credit the ministry’s effectiveness to the man-hours of the dozens of volunteers. Christian Service Corps members Bill and Elaine Newcomb of Lake City spent an entire week with the ministry.

“We could not operate without our faithful volunteers,” he said. “I wish more of our Halifax churches would come see what is happening and get involved.”

Although organized activities are offered both during the week and on weekends, Belz says the majority of personal contacts are made when RVers drop into the tent for coffee, conversation and prayer. They readily share their personal struggles and prayer requests with volunteers, who often pray for them on the spot.

They also may receive a Path to Victory New Testament, a product of the International Bible Society published especially for racing fans. According to Belz, the publication, which features race drivers’ testimonies and photos, is a popular item among fans. He reported giving away four cases of the NIV New Testaments.

The chilly weather of the first weeks of February proved a factor in attendance at events at the ministry tent, but the numbers of “drop-in” visitors remained high. Along with steaming cups of coffee and spiced tea, volunteers served up answers to questions about RV repair, and directions to the Post Office and medical clinics. Volunteers also operated a 6-seat golf cart to transport handicapped visitors around the Speedway. On quieter, race-less days, Belz visited with campers at their “homes’ in the RV lot.

Some Daytona Raceway fans make the February race weeks an annual vacation, and occupy the same seats in the stands and park close to the same spots each year. Some visitors to the ministry tent were making their 43rd pilgrimage to the races. After several years among the fans, Belz and other volunteers have become familiar faces. Belz has seen the raceway ministry grow from having 10 in Sunday services in the tent to more than 100 this year.

The Raceway Ministry began its February season at Daytona with a Super Bowl party Feb. 6 following the Rolex 500 race. The packed tent of racing fans viewed not only the game, but also a taped testimony by quarterback Kurt Warner on a 7'x10' screen and consumed large quantities of hamburgers, hot dogs and home-made cookies. The crowd, which Belz said was from “all different walks of life” and from “everywhere,” stood at attention during the National Anthem and respectfully removed their hats during prayers. He said “seeds were planted” during the evening.

Belz, who has been the director of missions in the association for eight years, told Florida Baptist Witness the Speedway ministry provides him opportunities of one-on-one prayer and evangelism not unlike a pastor’s role.

“People at the Speedway want to talk about the condition of the country, their families, their personal needs,” he said. “It is a joy being out there.”