NASCAR as religion?

According to the main headline on the news last night, a local church had a NASCAR themed service yesterday. The big attraction (a.k.a. "bait") was a car driven by Dale Earnhardt which was parked outside the church. And yes, evidently it was a NASCAR-themed sermon...which you could attend live in the sanctuary or watch via big-screen TV while eating donuts and drinking coffee in the gym. I guess that does sound kinda fun, if you like that sort of thing. It makes me think of Dawn French and The Vicar of Dibley.

Anyhow, the local paper had this to report:

The Rev. Doug Heiman, pastor of the church, will focus his sermon on Earnhardt's life and legacy.

Because of the various safety initiatives that NASCAR has adopted since Earnhardt's crash death at the Daytona 500 in 2001, Heiman said Earnhardt's death has likely saved other NASCAR drivers' lives.

Heiman said he'll draw a parallel between NASCAR and Christianity, using the example that Jesus' death provided a way for believers to have eternal life.

"God also has a life-saving plan, as NASCAR has," Heiman said.

Dale Earnhardt = Jesus? NASCAR = God? I kinda wish I could have heard that sermon.

Ya gotta love southern Indiana.

p.s. Evidently the church makes little videos which they put up on youtube...you can watch eight people get baptized! WooHoo!