NASCAR Invocation Legend, Pastor Joe Nelms, Delivers Epic Pregame Prayer At Greenville Swamp Rabbits Game

Pastor Joe Nelms is BACK. Of course, most NASCAR fans will recognize him as the man who delivered the greatest pre-race invocation in NASCAR history back in 2011 at Nashville Superspeedway. Sadly, it was the last race in Nashville for a number of years, until the Cup Series returned in 2021. Back in 2011, Joe Nelms, pastor of the Family Baptist Church in nearby Lebanon, Tennessee, delivered the memorable invocation before the 2011 Xfinity Series race with his performance that would damn near put the great Ricky Bobby himself to shame. It went a little something like this: “Thank you for the Dodges and the Toyotas. Thank you for the Fords. And most of all we thank you for Roush and Yates partnering to give us the power that we see before us tonight. Thank you for GM Performance technology and the R07 engines. Thank you for Sunoco racing fuel and Goodyear tires that bring performance and power to the track. Lord, I want to thank you for my smokin’ hot wife tonight, Lisa. My two children, Eli and Emma – or as we like to call ’em, the little E’s.” And he ended his prayer with a nod to longtime NASCAR broadcaster Darrell Waltrip: “In Jesus’ name, boogity, boogity, boogity, amen.” https://twitter.com/NASCARonNBC/status/1805971782467490128 Glorious. Other than watching my man Ryan Blaney hoist the Cup Series trophy in 2023, it might be the most memorable moment of my NASCAR-watching life. And well.... he's BACK. Last night was "NASCAR Night" at the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey game, the ECHL minor league affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings. And who did they get to deliver a little pre-game prayer... none other than Pastor Joe Nelms, himself. And once again, he didn't disappoint. "Heavenly Father thank you for bringing us to Greenville South Carolina tonight for a unique combination of hosers and hockey and rednecks and race cars. Lord, we pray that You light this place on fire tonight. Be with our Greenville Swamp Rabbits and give them speed in their skates like Aunt Edna hearing the dinner bell. I pray every slap shot will find the back of the net, and may the goalie's glove be stickier than a hot biscuit. We pray the only thing broken tonight will be the hearts of those awful Royals when we leave this place.... In Jesus' name, boogity, boogity, boogity... AMEN." https://www.instagram.com/p/DFRPZZtpAE_/?hl=en COME ON WITH IT. And despite that incredible pre-game prayer, the Reading Royals were able to best the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in a shootout by a score of 3-2. 2024 Cup Series champ, Joey Logano, was in attendance for NASCAR night, along with Bubba Wallace, Kyle Busch, and Spire Motorsports drivers Justin Haley, Michael McDowell, Carson Hocevar, and Rajah Caruth. Chase Briscoe, Cole Custer, Harrison Burton and more were also on hand. The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season gets underway one week from today with the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on February 2nd, followed by the Duels at Daytona ahead of the first official race of the season, The Daytona 500, on February 16th. Get excited. https://www.instagram.com/p/DEycjQixtSF/