There have been numerous efforts to exclude religion from the realm of sports – for example, NBC’s decision to edit out Texans quarterback CJ Stroud’s mention of Jesus in his post-game interview. Therefore, it is truly refreshing to witness a sport where the opposite is true.
In the NTT IndyCar Series, a team has recently unveiled Pray as their primary sponsor for the season. Pray is recognized as the leading app for daily prayer and faith-based audio content, as stated in a press release from the series. The team, AJ Foyt Racing, will prominently display the company’s branding on the sidepods of their No. 41 Chevrolet, driven by second-year IndyCar racer Sting Ray Robb. Robb, who previously competed with Dale Coyne Racing, will make his debut with AJ Foyt Racing at the upcoming St. Petersburg Grand Prix.
Pray.com Founder and CEO Steve Gatena expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, acknowledging the growing acceptance of Christian advertisers on television networks. He identified motorsports fans as an exceptional audience for Pray.com. Gatena explained the reasoning behind their collaboration with Sting Ray, citing not only his unique name but also his Christian testimony.
Similar to CJ Stroud, Robb is unafraid to openly discuss his faith. It is truly commendable to witness an athlete being celebrated and rewarded for doing so. Robb, a 22-year-old driver, expressed his excitement about representing his faith through his car. He feels honored and blessed to partner with Pray.com, aiming to use their shared beliefs and goals to inspire others in their commitment to prayer and foster a stronger faith community.
This partnership between Pray and AJ Foyt Racing is a significant triumph for IndyCar. Many leagues and networks tend to shy away from religious topics, often due to fear of backlash from the “woke mob.” Fortunately, IndyCar seems to embrace the freedom of speech and self-expression, including discussions about faith. In fact, the press release announcing the Pray-AJ Foyt Partnership was readily available on the series’ official website.
Securing sponsors is no easy task, making this collaboration even more noteworthy. Pray’s support will greatly contribute to Robb and the No. 41 team’s participation in the 2024 IndyCar season.
While this is undoubtedly beneficial for the series, IndyCar could have easily succumbed to pressure from the vocal minority who typically object to such partnerships. However, they chose not to. This decision reflects positively on IndyCar, AJ Foyt Racing, Sting Ray Robb, and Pray, as it demonstrates their willingness to defy the norm and forge a rare alliance in the sports world.
According to the Source outkick.com