Sixty-five pastors from several denominations, including five Christian Reformed pastors, raced in the third annual Faster Pastor Challenge at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Mich.
Rev. Steve Dozeman, from Calvary CRC in Holland, Mich., advanced to the championship heat and went for a spin—literally. His spinout knocked him out of the race even though he was leading with just two laps to go.
“So I’m out in front with two laps to go and the guy behind me clips me on purpose—I go into a spinout,” he said. The pastor who knocked Dozeman out of the race was disqualified.
(L-R) Revs. Chris Cassis, Steve Dozeman, Mark Quist, Steven Rusticus, and Randal Meyers raced in the Faster Pastor Challenge.
Despite a disappointing finish, Dozeman still enjoyed the night. “It was a really neat time of fellowship for pastors and for churches out in the stands,” he said.
Rev. Mark Quist from Park CRC in Holland, Mich., was racing for the first time and said he had no other racing experience “other than speeding around on the regular roads.”
He finished second in his heat, but only the first place winner of each heat moved on to the final round.
“We had a lot of fun. The most fun for me was talking with the racers. It was just a great night hanging out with them,” said Quist.
Pastors borrowed racecars from the professional drivers that usually compete at the raceway.
A local radio station and Winning at Home, an organization that helps families, sponsored the race. The winning pastor’s church received a donation for its youth ministry.
Other competing CRC pastors included Revs. Chris Cassis (Calvin, Holland); Steven Rusticus (VictoryPoint Ministries, Holland); and Randal Meyers (Haven, Zeeland).
“Some pastors are pretty competitive people,” Quist remarked. “They aren’t even afraid to wreck a car on their way to the finish line!”
Rev. Steve Dozeman spins out after leading the race with just two laps to go.
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About the Author
Ryan Struyk was a former Banner news correspondent for classes Grand Rapids South and Thornapple Valley.
