NASCAR Prayer: Was Joe Nelms' Ode Comical or Inspirational?

Tennessee Baptist pastor Joe Nelm opened up a NASCAR race on Tuesday in grand style, thanking God for nearly every car under the sun and, of course, his "smoking hot wife."

"Thank you for the Dodges and Toyotas," he proclaimed before snickering drivers.

"Thank you for Sunoco Racing Fuel and Goodyear Tires that bring performance and power to the track."

"Lord I want to thank you tonight for my smoking hot wife, Lisa," followed by roars from the track and the stands.

And to close, in only the way Joe Nelm could, he ended with, "In Jesus name, boogity, boogity, boogity, Amen."

Was it comical or inspirational?

Well, I suppose you could say it was both: Comical for the obvious reasons, inspirational for all the drivers who trust in God that their cars won't spin out of control going 200 miles per hour.

Honestly, if more people said prayer the way Helm did, with undying passion and with no boundaries, I wouldn't groan every time the "Star-Spangled Banner" was droned, or yawn when "God Bless America" was sung in the same old tune.

Don't get me wrong, both songs are embedded in our country's history, but prayer was meant to be said with passion and heart, not recited by the next "American Idol."

Why do you think Nelm and such guys as Chicago Blackhawks anthem signer Jim Cornelison receive such a great response?

Because they hold nothing back, much like the drivers of NASCAR, and they give 100 percent every time they go out into the spotlight.

Nelms' prayer was hilarious, but, more importantly, he inspired more in joking than many do reciting an anthem or a prayer in earnest.