Spring 2026 Racers For Christ Update
Called Together
Executive Director Eddie Baugher
Fueling Faith in 2025
Entrusted With a Legacy
Chaplain Craig Ritschel
Living Life at Full Throttle
Chaplain Lori Cutter
Jesus Sightings
RFC Kids: A Year of Growth, Faith, and Fun
Chaplain Liz Abbott
RFC FUNdraisers
Photos from the Field
Called Together
Executive Director Eddie Baugher
Called Together
Executive Director Eddie Baugher
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
With the start of a new racing season, I’m reminded of the calling God placed on my life. It’s not always easy, but it’s always fulfilling. I may never fully comprehend the calling God placed on the lives of men like Noah, Moses, or Abraham. I realize the type of calling I experienced is different than theirs. But there’s one thing I know about their God-given pursuits that aligns with mine: They weren’t called by God to do it alone.
Noah had his immediate family to help him build the ark and prepare for the great flood. Moses had his brother Aaron to assist him as he confronted Pharaoh to release God’s people from bondage. And Abraham had his wife Sarah by his side as they lived out the promise that God would make them into a great nation. We see where Noah, Moses, and Abraham were clearly called to go and serve God. But what about Noah’s wife and children? What about Aaron? And what about Sarah? Even though they weren’t the primary ones God spoke to, they were still part of His plan and played an important role in fulfilling His intentions.
After God created Adam in the Garden, everything was good…except for one thing. He declared in Genesis 2:18, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” And that’s exactly what He did. Now, Adam and Eve had their share of problems, like eating of the forbidden fruit and getting kicked out of Paradise. But there was no way Adam would have been able to fulfill all God had planned for humanity by himself, all alone.
We all have people in our lives that God uses to help us fulfill His calling. For me, it’s my wife Kelly. God may have called me into my current role with RFC, but He also called Kelly to walk beside me in this ministry. And just like He called Noah and his family, Moses and his brother Aaron, and Abraham and his wife Sarah, God called my wife and me, together. And her calling to ministry is just as valid as mine. Because without her… Well, my calling could never be fulfilled.
And it’s not just the calling God has placed on my wife and me; it’s also the calling He has given each one of you. It might be the calling to pray for RFC. It might be the calling to serve with us. It might be the calling to financially support the ministry.
How has God called you? Because, no matter how or where that is, your mission is just as important as mine. We’re working together to help fulfill the Great Commission Jesus left with us before He ascended into heaven after His resurrection. It’s what He’s called all of us to do. “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ ” (Matthew 28:18-20)
Are you listening for God’s voice? Are you following where He is leading you?
Fueling Faith in 2025
Because of your commitment to showing Christ’s love in the racing and rodding communities, RFCers served (collectively) at 2,305 motorsports events last year! Your support ensured that drivers, teams, staff, and fans—like folks at this Whiting, NJ, car show— were met with joy, compassion, and truth from our volunteers.
58 Salvations
Your investment in RFC’s outreach opened doors for life-changing spiritual discussion at tracks and events throughout North America and Australia. Whether it was through a challenge station like the one Michael Stone set up at Xtreme Raceway Park in Ferris, TX, or through one-on-one conversations, you helped create moments where the Holy Spirit moved in the hearts of 58 individuals, leading them to profess salvation in Jesus Christ alone!
42 Baptisms
Your partnership allowed individuals of all ages to boldly declare their new life in Christ! Whether in a river—like the baptism Jim Jack performed in the Colorado in Parker, AZ, at the ADBA boat races—or in horse troughs, pools, and waterways across the country, you helped make 42 baptisms possible as believers publicly celebrated their faith.
600 Chapel Services
Your gifts created many opportunities for worship and spiritual growth. You helped provide over 600 chapel services that reached close to 17,000 people with the life-giving truth of God’s Word. Pictured is an early morning gathering at Concho Valley Dragway in Ferris, TX, led by David Ruebush.
15 Weddings
Because of your generosity, couples experienced Christ-centered beginnings to their marriages. Your support made it possible for our chaplains—like Steve Schreyer, here with Ashley and Craig—to officiate 15 weddings, helping motorsports enthusiasts and others form new families with lives rooted in faith!
71 hospital/sick calls
Because you care deeply for people in motorsports, many facing illness, injury, and hardship received prayer, encouragement, and practical support. This photo shows Executive Director Eddie Baugher alongside Nitro Funny Car crew member Kyle building a wheelchair ramp for a fellow crew member recovering from a car accident. Through your support, our chaplains and ministry assistants were able to make 71 hospital and sick calls—offering comfort through their presence and pointing people to the strength found in Jesus.
118 Funerals, Memorials, and Celebrations of Life
When motorsports families faced heartbreaking loss, your partnership brought comfort. Through your support, RFC chaplains conducted 118 funerals, memorials, and celebrations of life, standing beside grieving families and friends, sharing the promises and hope of the Savior as they navigated the loss of a loved one.
Entrusted With a Legacy
Chaplain Craig Ritschel
At the beginning of each year, as Racers For Christ prepares for the upcoming season of service in motorsports, each of our regions hosts a conference for the chaplains and ministry assistants in that area. This gathering includes fellowship, a review of ministry health, and practical training. As a coordinator in Region 5 (West Central U.S.), I had the privilege of leading our event at Chaplain/Board Member Steve Yaggy’s race shop in Rochester, MN.
To back up just a bit, God has always reminded me of the gift I’ve been given to serve in an organization that is so strong today because of those who have gone before me, men and women who’ve cared for, protected, and nurtured the ministry and then passed it on to the next generation to do the same. I’m reminded of some of the great saints in the Bible — Joshua, Paul, Sarah, Deborah, and Jesus’ mother Mary — who took a legacy entrusted to them and carried it forward for those who came after, because they said yes to God.
The theme of our day conference in Rochester this year was “Entrusted with a Legacy, Carrying the Mission Forward.” Throughout the conference, regardless of the topic at hand, we continually integrated this theme into our discussions, and we came away at day’s end with a much keener sense of the remarkable responsibility we have as chaplains and ministry assistants.
One of the highlights of the conference was our special guest, long-time RFC board member Steve Earwood. Steve’s reputation as one of drag racing’s most innovative and influential figures is reflected in his numerous and prestigious honors from the IHRA, the NHRA, and the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, among many others. Few executives have had a bigger impact on the straight-line landscape than Mr. Earwood.
We felt truly blessed to have Steve join us and share some of his testimony. His story, raw and unfiltered, was not unlike many of ours: a journey of living in the fast lane, all the while knowing the Truth. Many of us have “been there and done that.” I know I have, and after Steve spoke, several in our group found the courage and freedom to share their own stories of redemption, reflecting on how similar they are.
Also powerful for our team was Steve’s recollection of RFC’s earliest years and how the organization was introduced to the NHRA: the first prayers at the track, the first chapel service, the way they were received (or not!) by the racing community. Hearing the beginning of the RFC story made our perspective today, 55 years later, so much more meaningful! We can look back and see how God has raised up His ministry through the lives of so many just like us!
The legacy of Racers For Christ continues, chapter after chapter, until we join Jesus in glory. Steve’s story (and yours, too) is such a precious reminder of the God we serve — One who reaches down to us when we don’t have the strength to reach up to Him, who doesn’t call the qualified but qualifies the called.
Living Life At Full Throttle
Chaplain Lori Cutter
Born and raised in Arizona in the world of dirt-track open-wheel racing, I knew for years that God had called me to serve the racing community, but I struggled to understand just how. After decades of working in motorsports journalism and PR, and crewing with race teams—always searching, always coming up short of just the right fit—God finally opened the door in April 2024. A simple conversation with an RFC chaplain ignited a certainty I had been longing for: “Here I am, Lord—send me.”
Soon after joining RFC, my husband Charlie (a motorsports paramedic) and I started serving full‑time with the High Limit Racing series. The travel was demanding—long weeks on the road, hotel stays, and thousands of miles in our vehicle—but every moment was worth it as we ministered to teams, families, and fans who often had no other spiritual support.
Still, the monetary strain was real. That’s when a young Christian couple from the series stepped forward. Their gift covered nearly all our travel for the second half of the season! Their generosity not only eased our financial burden, it also multiplied our ministry. Because of their gift, more drivers received prayer before strapping in to race, more families and crew members received comfort during emergencies, and more people around the track heard about the hope found in Jesus.
That couple’s support is a perfect picture of what you make possible through your prayers and gifts to Racers For Christ. Your partnership places an RFC chaplain at dirt tracks and so many other events—someone family members can reach out to when a wreck happens, someone kids far from home can lean on, someone a track worker seeks out just to say, “Thank you for praying for me.” Your giving fuels thousands of miles traveled, Bibles given away, prayers uplifted, devotions shared, and moments of life-changing care.
As RFC’s newly appointed Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing Series Chaplain for 2026 and the series’ new traveling paramedic, Charlie and I recently returned from Perth, Australia, where we served at the international HLR event. What a truly memorable experience, all divinely arranged! We’ll be on the road from March through October, serving 63 race nights alongside nearly 20 other volunteer chaplains. This is a massive mission field, and we cannot sustain it alone.
Your prayers and financial partnership with RFC bring the love of Christ directly to drivers, teams, and families who desperately need it, often at the very moment they need it most. By supporting this ministry, you are present in every hug, every drivers’ meeting prayer, every midnight hospital visit, and every life touched across thousands of miles.
Jesus Sightings
Chaplain Jim Jack
A drag boat racer from California texted me with this photo, taken at the pump at a Shell station where he’d pulled in for gas. Fill up with Jesus while filling up your car!
Chaplain Larry Elliott
Chaplain Lane Harrison and I have been handing out the little Jesus figures and small pocket crosses. As we pray with drivers and teams, we share the good news and leave them with one or both to carry in their pockets. They start conversations and plant Gospel seeds, and it’s become quite a movement!
RFC Kids: A Year of Growth, Faith, and Fun
Chaplain Liz Abbott
This past year has been an incredible journey of faith, fellowship, and fun for RFC Kids! As part of the larger Racers For Christ family, our kids’ ministry continues to grow both in reach and impact, bringing Jesus’ love to young hearts in the motorsports community.
One of our most exciting updates has been the rollout of our new logo and dedicated social page, giving our younger racers and families a fresh, vibrant identity all their own. It’s been a joy to see how this new look has connected with kids at tracks and events across the country.
The Vacation Bible School-style events at Texas Motorplex and Bristol (TN) Motor Speedway were highlights of the 2025 season. Kids enjoyed three days of fun activities, games, music, and faith-filled learning, bringing the Parables of Jesus alive in a way that resonates with young racers and their families. These events helped plant seeds of faith in hearts that may have never experienced church in a traditional setting.
A defining moment took place at the Texas Fall Nationals. On Friday of that weekend, 18 kids (along with parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles) gathered to learn the Ten Commandments. Picture it: generations sitting side by side, opening God’s Word, asking questions, and growing together. It was a beautiful snapshot of what makes RFC Kids so special — faith passed down, shared, and lived out in community. That powerful session helped shape and clarify the heart behind our RFC Kids Mission and Vision:
- OUR MISSION: RFC Kids plants seeds of faith in the hearts of children and their families, helping them know and love God.
- OUR VISION: Inspiring generations of families in motorsports where God’s Word—taught through Bible lessons, hands-on activities, and shared experiences—grows faith that bears fruit in everyday life, at home and at the track. (Deuteronomy 6:5-9)
Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and strength. But in order to truly love Him, we must first know Him. For the youngest racing fans at the track, RFC Kids is planting seeds of truth that God will faithfully grow.
With the 2026 season underway, we’re grateful for the continued support of families, chaplains, volunteers, and partners who make this ministry possible. With every sticker shared, every Bible verse learned, and every prayer spoken, RFC Kids is helping shape a new generation who knows they are loved by God, both on the track and in life.
RFC FUNdraisers
Golf Tournament
We’re pleased to once again announce J&A Services as the title sponsor (their second consecutive year!) for our 18th Annual RFC Golf Tournament in Pomona, CA! Join us on Wednesday, November 11th —the day before the NHRA Finals—at Mountain Meadows Golf Course.
Route 66 Road Trip America
This year marks the first year for a new fundraiser, Road Trip America, which ran March 25th to April 3rd, traveling the historic Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica. Along the way, this inaugural journey created meaningful opportunities for ministry, connection, and celebration as we honored 100 years of Route 66, 75 years of the NHRA, 55 years of Racers For Christ, and our nation’s 250th birthday. Watch our upcoming communications for stories, photos, and highlights from the road, and look ahead with us as plans begin to take shape for Road Trip America 2027!
Online Auction
Our online auction returns in July! Each year, supporters donate incredible items, and this year’s lineup promises to be just as exciting. You won’t want to miss the chance to bid on standout racing collectibles and unique pieces. Expect to see an amazing variety of items, including full-size autographed helmets, die‑cast cars, racer photos, RC cars, autographed sports memorabilia, and plenty more surprises! We invite you to register (watch our website as the dates draw closer), join the fun, and place your bids in support of the ministry! If you’d like to contribute an item to this year’s auction, please contact Shelley in our office at TeamRFC@TeamRFC.org.
Fueling Faith in the Field
At World Wide Technology Raceway, a Stock driver, Victor, paused in the staging lanes and asked Chaplain Perry for prayer during eliminations.
Chaplain Russ Elzy prays trackside with Pro Mod driver Melanie Salemi at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida.
Chaplain Ken Morse gives the invocation at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO, taking the Gospel straight to the Kubota High Limit Racing Mid-Week Series.
His third time at this event, Chaplain Chuck McCracken is still making Kingdom connections at the Kids Christmas Car Show & Toy Drive in Queen Creek, AZ!
Chaplain Steve Schreyer races his 1948 Plymouth coupe painted with the Gospel message at Proctor Speedway in MN.
Chaplain Kevin Cooke prays with a group of Junior racers during the NHRA Divisional at Cecil County Dragway in Rising Sun, MD.
At the Birds Sportsman finals in Bradenton, FL, Chaplain Russ Elzy prays with a Junior dragster racer Cam Rich.
An impromptu RFC Kids craft session with Chaplain Liz Abbott at Penwell Knights Raceway in Odessa, TX, drew 17 children and four moms to learn about Jesus.
Chaplain Santi Rodriguez braved the cold to race and bring the warmth of Jesus at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, GA. His dad Sam joined him at the races for the first time in years.
At the NHRA Divisional in Madison, IL, Chaplain Perry Ortiz prays with Super Comp driver Rick.