It’s no secret that the Bible is still immensely comforting, influential and powerful. Just consider a fascinating NASCAR tradition that Stevie Waltrip, wife of former race car driver Darrell Waltrip, has carried on for decades.
Years ago, Stevie started writing Bible verses for her husband to keep on the dashboard of his car during each race.
She explained the tradition in a recent Fox Sports video: “I just wanted him to have inspiration in the car with him I started writing scripture out for him.” But her efforts didn’t stop with her husband.
Eventually, the late Dale Earnhardt learned that his friend, Darrell Waltrip, kept Bible verses in his car and he, too, asked Stevie to write him scriptures that he could take along with him. She obliged and, for years, also offered Earnhardt biblical solace during each race.
#SteviesVerse for @DaleJr today @TalladegaSuperS ?? pic.twitter.com/pTi8BEuQun
— Amy Earnhardt (@AmyEarnhardt) October 15, 2017
“Dad was religious,” Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is also a famed NASCAR driver, said of the Scripture tradition. “When we weren’t racing on Sunday, we didn’t miss going to church. If she had the Midas touch to keep somebody safe, he wanted some of that.”
The elder Earnhardt simply didn’t want to race without Stevie’s scripture, which he kept in his car until his death during a crash in 2001. But, again, the tradition didn’t end there.
Sixteen years after Earnhardt’s death, Stevie’s Bible tradition carries on, as Earnhardt Jr. now receives a Bible verse from her for every race that he participates in.
“I don’t have anything I do on race day that I’m superstitious about, that has to happen except for the scripture,” he said. “It gives you some strength, some emotional, mental strength. I don’t feel safe without it.”
#SteviesVerse for @DaleJr today @CLTMotorSpdwy pic.twitter.com/xRNlC57Z01
— Amy Earnhardt (@AmyEarnhardt) October 8, 2017
Over time, the tradition has taken on addtional life as well, with Earnhardt Jr.’s wife, Amy Earnhardt, tweeting out every one of Stevie’s verses, so that fans can also benefit from the biblical wisdom.
“People will tweet at me, Where is the verse, where is the verse?” she said, noting the excitement people have over it. “So they’re looking forward to it every week.”
Find out more about the amazing tradition below:
NASCAR.com reported that Earnhardt had Lamentations 3:22-24 in his car during Sunday’s race, verses that read, in part: “By His mercies we have been kept from complete destruction.”
The race car driver even spoke about these Scriptures, explaining that he avoided crashes during the race with minimal damage to his vehicle.
“I (was) carrying Stevie Waltrip’s scripture in the car,” he said. “She probably had me a little luck there. So, it never hurts to have an angel on your shoulder.”