Of Course We Should Pray for the President

by Paul Batura | March 3, 2025 | Culture

Former swimmer and women’s sports activist Riley Gaines ignited something of a social media firestorm on Sunday when she prayed for President Donald Trump and his cabinet at the opening of the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix in Texas.

The tradition of praying at the start of NASCAR races dates to the sport’s beginning in 1948. But television viewers around the country would have first become aware of the practice in 1979 when CBS agreed to air the invocation. Response from viewers was overwhelmingly positive.

Riley Gaines’ invitation came just weeks after President Trump made headlines for attending the Daytona 500, his second visit to the track.

Here is how Gaines prayed:

Dear heavenly Father, we gather today with gratitude for your mercy that we do not deserve and the sacrifice of your son who was sent to Earth to conquer death, hell and the grave. We thank you for this day and the unity that brings us together as we prepare for the start of this race. Lord, we ask for your protection for all drivers, staff, families and fans alike. Grant each driver wisdom and safety at every turn.
Heavenly Father, bless President Donald J. Trump, his cabinet and all of our leaders that they may seek your guidance in all decisions. If this is done, we may never be wrong and America will be made great again. Instill in us humility and grace so that others will see you in our daily lives. May today and every day lead us to the ultimate finish line – meeting you at the pearly gates.
We surrender the activities of this day and of our lives into your mighty hands. God bless America, God bless the great state of Texas. In your name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture is clear in its call to pray for our leaders. Wrote the apostle Paul:

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

Critics of Riley Gaines’ prayer suggested NASCAR was being turned into a Trump rally. Others were uncomfortable with the invocation simply mentioning the president at all.

NASCAR and political figures have long enjoyed an alliance. President Jimmy Carter hosted champion drivers at the White House in 1978. Back in 1984, President Ronald Reagan was the grand marshall of the Daytona Firecracker 400. George H.W. Bush visited the Daytona Speedway in 1992. Bill Clinton was grand marshall of the 1992 Southern 500.

Back in 2015, NASCAR’s Darrell Waltrip was the keynote speaker at the National Prayer Breakfast. Waltrip and President Obama greeted each other warmly. The legendary driver pulled no punches in his remarks. At one point during his keynote, the championship driver warned:

“If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, if you don’t have a relationship, if He’s not the master of your life, if you’ve never gotten on your knees and asked Him to forgive you of your sins, or if you are just a pretty good guy or a pretty good gal, you’re going to go to hell.” 

Opening prayers at NASCAR have made headlines over the years. Pastor Joe Nelms of the Family Baptist Church in Lebanon, Tenn., became water cooler fodder in 2011 when he prayed at the Nashville Superspeedway:

Heavenly father, we thank you tonight for all your blessings you sent and in all things we give thanks. So we want to thank you tonight for these mighty machines that you brought before us. Thank you for the Dodges and the Toyotas. Thank you for GM Performance Technology and R07 engines. Thank you for Sunoco racing fuel and Goodyear tires that bring performance and power to the track.
Lord, I want to thank you for my smokin’ hot wife tonight, Lisa, my two children, Eli and Emma – or, as we like to call them, the Little Es. I pray you bless the drivers and use them tonight. May they put on a performance worthy of this great track. In Jesus’s name, boogity boogity boogity, Amen.

While Pastor Nelms’ prayer went viral, some were understandably uncomfortable with the inclusion of several irreverent references.  

Yet as Christians, we should feel free to pray for the burdens the Lord places on our hearts, and especially for our elected leaders regardless of political party.

Image credit: X.