Last year, the SBC of Virginia sponsored the FindItHere.com NASCAR Whelen Late Model 200 / Limited 100 / Pure Stock 50 at South Boston Speedway. Our churches were on the ground to share the message of Christ. You can read the exciting stories and view pictures from the race on the South Boston Speedway page at www.sbcv.org/gps.
In 2012, the SBCV is assisting local churches in their task of fulfilling the Great Commission by sponsoring a FindItHere.com race in all 5 regions in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The dates and locations are:
June 29 - Southside Speedway, Richmond
June 30 - Old Dominion Speedway, Manassas
July 3 - South Boston Speedway, South Boston
July 4 - Motor Mile Speedway, Christiansburg/Radford
July 21 - Langley Motor Speedway, Hampton
Goal
To provide the people who normally attend the races at these Virginia speedways an opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel; to provide churches with the opportunity to share their faith in the NASCAR culture; and to provide an avenue for church members to bring lost friends to the race and share the Gospel with them.
General Plans for Your Regional Race
3-minute raffle – with possible prizes being a Richard Petty Race Experience or a large TV
1 block party trailer and, in some locations, 1 sports party trailer (need to be manned)
Logo-ed giveaways, homemade cookies, water bottles with Bible verses on them, tracts
Live music
Tickets available for the lost
A volunteer from a sponsoring church to sing the National Anthem
Local pastor to pray on the platform at the beginning of the race
Prayer walkers and sitters (perhaps we could actually pray individually for each person who attends!)
Partners Needed – Racing Survives on Sponsors
SBCV has purchased the race sponsorships, but we need churches/individuals to co-sponsor the races to cover the cost of the 3-minute raffle prizes, weekly logo-ed giveaways, block party expenses, music, and team identifiers.
Sponsors are needed at varying levels:
$2,500
$1,000
$500
$250
Pre-race and Post-race Work
Have a team in place at the races before the FindItHere.com race. The goal is to build some brand-recognition before the event. A team will have the billboard trailer at the race handing out some log-oed giveaways. Post-race staffing also demonstrates that it was not just a one-shot event—desire to communicate that SBCV churches are available for ministry. The pre- and post-race dates are available on the Whelen NASCAR websites.
Contact your regional church health strategist if you would like to sponsor or volunteer for the FindItHere.com race in your region.
Help Needed on the Day of the Event:
National Anthem singer
Pace car riders
Green-flag waver
Someone to announce, “Gentlemen start your engines!”
Trophy presentation
Hat guys/girls
Prayer
Logo-ed vehicle that takes a lap before the race
Ticket table—someone outside the gate to distribute tickets to volunteers and invited guests
