Around 40,000 fans gather each year in campgrounds at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) for the NASCAR Cup Series, and Megan Barringer believes it is a mission field filled with those needing God’s love.
“It is a group of people that are often missed,” said Barringer, who is an Ambassador with FCA Motorsports. “They are the people that no one thinks needs ministry. It’s nice for us to come in and show we can serve and witness to anyone.”
Barringer first got involved in campground ministry at MIS about 15 years ago through Motor Racing Outreach and coordinated efforts to move it under the umbrella of FCA’s motorsports ministry two years ago.
“This ministry touches countless lives within the racing community, and our mission is to share Jesus with racers across the globe,” said Donita Povolny, Vice President of FCA Motorsports. “I believe Megan is accomplishing that. I'm amazed to see how God is at work.”
Barringer heads up a team of 70 volunteers that partner with track management to provide ADA disability transportation from the campgrounds to the track and answer questions for fans. In return, the group conducts ministry, including serving coffee and cookies, passing out Bibles and bracelets, and hosting a church service and a VBS-style children’s ministry.
The race was held the week of August 16th this year, and volunteers passed out about 150 Bibles and more than 1,000 wristbands, along with 65 pounds of coffee and thousands of cookies. Stories of spiritual impact include someone who cried upon receiving a Bible because they had never been offered one before, and a child in the VBS program who asked for guidance on how to read and study the Bible on his own.
Eric Steinke, FCA’s Director for South Central Michigan and served as chaplain for the weekend, said the ministry demonstrates the power of presence and prayer as the volunteers get to know the same campers who return year after year.
“Our team of volunteers are there to pray with [campers], meet them where they are at — no matter who they are,” he said.
Volunteers are equipped with FCA’s E3 Discipleship training and display a positive and flexible attitude, Steinke added.
“My vision for ministry is about reaching people where they are at with the love of Jesus Christ and the Gospel,” said Steinke. “People from all over are at the track… we are building relationships with families there.”
Additionally, NASCAR driver Michael McDowell spoke at one of the campgrounds and shared his testimony with around 80 people. He relayed in his message how one can be a driver and ministry-focused at the same time.
“It’s not just fans (Megan is) ministering to—it’s race families,” Povolny said. “These are people passionate about motorsports in some form or fashion—they used to race, they have a kid or grandkid who races. These are racing families. It’s catching part of the ministry in a different way.”
Mike Gruppen volunteered to help provide transportation during the day, and at night he did what he calls street evangelism in the campgrounds, where he engaged people in conversation, prayed with them and shared the Gospel.
“I have a heart for ministry, and I have a heart for people who are lost,” Gruppen said. “You see people by the thousands who are looking for answers… When you can truly engage somebody in conversation, they will tell you the deepest, darkest stuff. They never expect to meet Jesus at a NASCAR race.”
The team also connects and builds relationships with others doing ministry in the campgrounds, like Kevin Kent, who brought a bus decorated with glow-in-the-dark paint and a cross on top that he used as a place to connect with people, share his testimony, and pray with others.
Barringer continues to build a relationship with track management and hopes to have a presence in Fan Plaza at MIS next year with an FCA booth. As part of such a presence in Fan Plaza, she hopes to host a church service there with a driver giving a testimony. Additionally, she is planning to hand out cards featuring testimonies of drivers. Out of the 11 campgrounds at MIS, the group currently has a ministry presence in six and hopes to expand that to eight next year.
“This past year has taught me that I need to rely completely on God—It’s not my doing at all,” Barringer said.
Megan Barringer asks for continued ministry growth and the opportunity to have a presence in Fan Plaza at Michigan International Speedway for NASCAR Cup Series to be held in June 2025. Additional volunteers will also be needed for the coming year with a focus on partnerships with local churches.
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