We are a RACING Team

We are not a “religious” group.  We are a racing team.  Our purpose is to promote good sportsmanship as defined in the iRacing Sporting Code.  We aim to set a good example and make friends by being "nice" to others--competing without hurting other competitors, and helping others improve their performance to reach their full potential. Our most important Requirement for Membership is that Members are required to adhere to the "Golden Rule". 

Most racing teams have sponsors that provide financial support to the team in return for display of a logo approved by the Sponsor on the car/s driven by Team Members, and in Team Communications with the public. Our Team is sponsored by Donald Wayne Strout, through his company, WS Wealth Managers, Inc. with financial support requiring the display of the Team RFC logo, licensed to Strout by Christian Motorsports International, Inc.  

Christian Motorsports International, Inc. (a not for profit established in 1971  Website) provides a service to the real life world of motorsports by providing chaplains to meet the emotional and spiritual needs of racers at drag races, road races, oval track races, motorcycle races, boat races, car shows and rodding events. The objective is to provide inspiration and encouragement to people as a whole. There are presently over 300 volunteer chaplains from 38 USA states, Canada, Kenya and Australia. A few are credentialed ministers, but the vast majority are laymen. For many years a Team RFC Chaplain has served as the Official Chaplain of the NHRA, the world's largest racing organization with more than 50,000 members.  Strout, who happens to be a Team RFC Chaplain, believes that the continued success of iRacing requires a strong global interest in real life racing, and that Team RFC Chaplains help to support many real life racers with friendship, service, encouragement, and inspiration. Permission to use the Team RFC logo is provided because Christian Motorsports International, Inc. believes : 1) That setting a good example by following the "Golden Rule" while participating in motorsports is a worthy activity, and; 2) Making fair competition, helping others, and doing one's best more the goals (rather than just the worship of "victory") is consistent with the message they promote.

Reactions to invitations to join the team placed in the iRacing forums included messages from individuals who questioned the sincerity of the statement "We are not a 'religious' group" and who obviously held the belief that somehow a racing team sponsored by a follower of Jesus Christ, displaying the Team RFC logo would discriminate against non-believers or somehow "promote" religion in a non-religious, secular area of life. Several felt the need to share their Atheism and ask "Can an Atheist join your team?".  The answer is "yes"--Non-Believers can be Members as long as they meet the stated Requirements for Membership and follow The Rules regarding BEHAVIOR. 

We are not a 'religious' group because our activity is not about religion, however many of our Members are likely to be people who have strong 'religious' beliefs which include beliefs about how to treat others. 

Here are two examples to put this "We are not a 'religious' group" statement into a proper perspective. 

Joe Gibbs Racing is a successful NASCAR Team. Joe Gibbs is a Christian. http://gameplanforlife.com/  One of the main sponsors of the team is Interstate Batteries whose stated "Purpose" on their website is "To glorify God and enrich lives as we deliver the most trustworthy source of power to the world."  Does Joe Gibbs being a Christian and the team being sponsored by an organization whose stated purpose is to "Glorify God" make Joe Gibbs Racing a 'religious' group? 

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg drive for a F1 Team, officially named Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team. From 2009-2012 the team was partially owned by Aabar Investments, an investment company controlled by the Government of Abu Dhabi, UAE whose State Religion is Islam.  Petronas, the major sponsor is a corporation owned by the nation of Malaysia, whose Official State Religion is Islam. Does that make Team Mercedes a "religious" group? 

I think you will find that Joe Gibbs Racing and the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team to be racing teams that happen to be supported by people of faith, but whose activities are all about RACING and whose members have diverse views about faith. So is it with Team RFC @ iRacing.