Racers for Christ

Racers for Christ/Team RFC was established in 1971 by Arnie Krueger and then incorporated as a non-profit in 1978 as fellowship for Christians in the sport of motor racing.  It has developed into a growing organization with broad impact across North America and beyond.  The overall purpose of Team RFC’s involvement in motor racing is to service emotional and spiritual needs through chapel services, pastoral care, outreach and Christian fellowship.  The Christian Motorsports International, Inc. family of ministries conducts non-denominational chapel services at local and professional racing events nationwide, providing pre-race chapel services, invocations, and a pastoral presence for more than 2000 racing events each racing year — including drag racing, open wheel racing, motorcycle racing, boat racing, stock car racing, off-road racing, airplane racing, and street rodding events. Professional and amateur racers, crew members, sponsors and officials regularly attend these chapels, with attendance occasionally more than 450. Eddie Baugher serves as the ministry's Executive Director as former RFC President Larry Smiley retired in 2017 from the position he held for 12 years. Larry will continue to be involved as the ministry's Rodder's For Christ ^® National Director.
The current Board of Directors consists of nine women and men who are business owners, executives , clergy, as well as former and current racers. Bandimere Speedway's President, Tami Bandimere, currently serves as the Chair of the Board for Team RFC.

Team RFC serves in a pastoral role to Christians and those who are actively participating in motorsports and racing.  Many racing participants are away from their home church much of the year, and through the implementation of track-side chapel services and other creative means, serves to meet this vital need normally met through a local church.  This includes, but is not limited to, providing pastoral guidance, performing weddings, conducting funerals and memorial services, hospital calls, sick calls, jail visits, and offering the sacraments of baptism and communion.  Although Team RFC strives to prevent from being identified with any particular denomination or church affiliation, they believe the Bible to be the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God, and their doctrinal emphasis centers around the person and life of Jesus Christ.

In the United States alone, over 75 million people (nearly one-third of the population) are said to attend motorsports events each year, establishing this as one of the fastest growing spectator sports in America. Team RFC uses this growing popularity as a “platform” from which to express its message of love and inspiration to motorsports.

In 2017, Team RFC served at 2,285 racing events and conducted 639 chapel services with their 349 active chaplains.  Bandimere Speedway is part of Region 5 West Central, our Track Chaplain at Bandimere Speedway is Ken Webb (wife Kam).  During the Speedway’s racing season, a pre-race morning chapel service is conducted at the race track on Sunday mornings and is open to anyone who wants to attend.