Ten years ago, Max Helton could not name five NASCAR drivers. A pastor 26 years, Helton served at churches from New York to Hawaii. But when a local race car driver in southern California introduced Helton to NASCAR driver Darrell Waltrip and his wife Stevie, the friendship turned into a challenge: "We need somebody like you in racing."

In February 1988, the Waltrips invited Helton to the Daytona 500. There he met two other Christian stock car drivers and their wives. Equally impressed with Helton, they also asked him to think seriously about a ministry for their sport. Helton submitted ideas in March.

Three months later, the drivers asked Helton to start the multi-faceted ministry he had proposed. After much prayer with his wife Jean, Helton resigned his pastorate in August 1988 to start an outreach to a sport he knew little about.

"It was a tough decision," the 58-year-old says now. (But) I felt God leading me to do this."

The Heltons, with their four daughters, moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where the newly formed, nondenominational Motor Racing Outreach (MRO) established its head-quarters.

Today, MRO has 30 staff members, including 15 chaplains, who minister each year at about 400 racing events in 22 different racing series?motorcycle, power boat, NASCAR, and more.

The group serves the racing community in three primary ways: restoration, discipleship, and outreach. Racing is a dangerous sport, so when injuries occur MRO chaplains minister to affected families immediately. If drivers or team members are having family problems, MRO chaplains suggest counseling services to help them through tough times. Bible studies, small groups, and three annual conferences are also offered.

Every race weekend, MRO conducts chapel services at an event's garage area, with as many as 400 people in attendance. Child care is offered, too, for certain racing series in a mobile community center housed in a 51-foot hauler.

Helton's step of faith onto the track is helping countless racers win the prize?eternally.