Preacher and Family Follow NASCAR Circuit

April 29, 2002 -- Dale Beaver lives in a self-contained world that is high-speed, high-stress and high-stakes: NASCAR. But he is not a pit boss, a mechanic, or even much of a fan.

He is a minister. In fact, for the past four years, Beaver has been the official Winston Cup series chaplain, whispering encouragement to drivers in the pit, and performing at weddings and funerals, most notably that of driver Dale Earnhardt.

Beaver, his wife, Andree, and their sons, Adam, 7, and Andrew, 4, are on the road 10 months a year, following along with the NASCAR drivers, mechanics and car owners as they travel from city to city, week after week. Beaver admits to being a preacher with an unusual congregation.

"All of these guys in this sport are thrill seekers," he said. "They live on adrenaline highs pretty regularly."

Though most people wouldn't link NASCAR with spirituality, there has been a fairly formalized spiritual system since 1988, when senior pastor Max Helton founded Motor Racing Outreach in Charlotte, N.C. Beaver is one of 13 full-time chaplains for the non-denominational group, which provides religious services for Winston Cup, 10 other racing series, and 21 other motorsport series, including motorcycle and boat racing, and Formula One racing in Europe.

Falling Into the Life

When he first started preaching in the town of Dixon, Ky., his wife was a bit tentative about moving. Although he enjoyed going to races, he did not know about the Winston Cup opening until a friend called him and told him about it. His wife, Andree, agreed.

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"She said she'd follow me off a cliff, and when we went to Kentucky, she thought she had fallen off a cliff," Beaver said. "And then when we went to NASCAR, she really felt like — she knew she'd followed me off a cliff."

"I knew," agreed Andree Beaver.

For the past three years, Beaver and his family have traveled the NASCAR circuit, setting up a mobile community center out of an 18-wheeler at each stop.

That center is a safe haven for the drivers, providing day care, Bible study, and a small gym. Plus, it provides respite when things go wrong, as happened with the death of racing legend Dale Earnhardt Sr., who died in a crash at the Daytona 500 in February 2001.