“We’re excited to support Blake and his stand for his faith,” says Bobby Downes, CEO of ChristianCinema.com, the car’s new sponsor. “This is a great opportunity to keep him racing and at the same time bring awareness about Christian movies that reflect family values.”

Although many applaud the prayer meetings in NASCAR circles (Editor’s Note: NASCAR’S primary chapel ministry is overseen by a PCA Minister), not everyone is willing to tolerate Christian values on the race track.

Indeed, NASCAR Nationwide series (AAA Minor league) driver Blake Koch is being persecuted for his faith.

Following California’s Royal Purple 300, Koch sat just 28 points out of the top 10 driver standings—but he was forced to race with a blank car after losing his primary sponsor because of a controversy over his Christianity.

Koch had partnered with The Rise Up and Register Campaign, which works to educate people on the importance of voting in the 2012 elections. But ESPN would not allow the ad to air because of its so-called political and religious overtones.

“I didn’t think that my faith in Christ would have an impact on whether or not a sponsor could air a commercial or not,” Koch told Fox & Friends on March 29. “The one thing I will not do is deny my faith just because a particular sponsor might not like the way I express my faith, which I do on my own time.”

Going into the race last weekend in Dallas, Koch would have been forced to park his car without a primary sponsor.

Read More