Bristol Raceway Ministries

Our ministry

Bristol Raceway Ministries is an organization of Christian volunteers who have come together for the last 32 years to serve the fans that attend events held at Bristol Motor Speedway. We offer the racing community opportunities to experience God’s love through a ministry of presence and service.

We are considered missionaries, however, in our unique situation, the “mission field” comes to us twice a year with NASCAR races and once a year with NHRA drag racing. Bristol Motor Speedway also invites our ministry to take part in other events that they host throughout the year as well.

Our history

It all started in the summer of 1992 under the direction of Bob Fleming who was at the time, a music director at Virginia Avenue Baptist Church in Bristol Va. Bob felt the calling to minister to the fans that attended the races here in Bristol. He began researching ministries at other NASCAR tracks around the country and discovered how beneficial such a ministry could be here in our area. With the track’s permission and a small group of volunteers from four other local churches Bob and his team began to serve the race fans at Bristol Motor Speedway.

In the news

Bristol Herald Courrier article from September 29, 2023 by David McGee.

Virginia Folklife Program article from April 13, 2023 by Katy Clune.

N.F.R.M audio interview from March 23, 2021 by Roger Marsh.

Times News article from July 5, 2020 by Chelsea Bishop.

WCYB TV news article from August 24, 2013 by Lyndsey Price.

Volunteers

Donating isn't the only way you can support our ministry, give us the gift of your time and talents. We are always looking for volunteers who are passionate about helping others and like to have fun while "Sharing The Love of Jesus." Our ministry relies on volunteers to interact with fans at hospitality tents, hand out Bibles and other Christian materials and drive golf cart shuttles to help individuals get around the racetrack that would otherwise not be able to attend such an event without a little help getting to their seats.

We provide an orientation training prior to events so that our volunteers have the knowledge and resources to be effective and comfortable talking with and assisting fans. You can contact us with the information at the bottom of this page to find out more about our exciting volunteer opportunities and get a schedule of when the next training dates will be. It's not a requirement that you like or even keep up with NASCAR to become a volunteer, just love people and have a desire to help them.

How we serve

We provide spiritual care for hurting and broken individuals at our hospitality tents both track side and in neighboring campgrounds.
We hold chapel services at our track side hospitality tents and in neighboring campgrounds too. More information can be found in our Frequently Asked Questions page with this link.
We provide a golf cart shuttle service for physically challenged individuals and anyone unable to navigate the steep terrain around the track. More information can be found with this link.
We assist EMS in the on-site emergency care centers and we can provide non emergency transportation to and from local hospitals as needed.
We hand out Christian books and literature as well as our own "Winner's Circle" race themed New Testament Bibles that we have printed every year. Look for our tents around the concourse and just down the hill from the shuttle bus drop-off at the dragstrip.
We offer in person prayer at events or you can submit a prayer request with this link at any time.

Non-profit organization

Our ministry relies on both volunteers and donations to support the work we do. There is never a cost involved for Bibles, materials, or services that we provide to fans. Bristol Raceway Ministries is a registered 501(C)(3) organization and 100% donation supported both by generous individuals and local missionary-focused churches throughout the year. All financial gifts are eligible for tax-deductible consideration. If you would like to help support our ministry financially with a donation, we have more information on our donation page.

This (Bristol Motor Speedway) is the greatest mission field per square inch in the world. Where else would you have the opportunity to share the Gospel through love and service to two to three hundred thousand people in such a short amount of time and in your own backyard? Jeff Byrd, the late President and General Manager - Bristol Motor Speedway