Dry Valley deacon original Raceway volunteer

Harold Caudle saw the vision of Alabama Raceway Ministries (ARM) before it existed and has remained constant to the purpose through the years.

A security and safety officer for the Talladega Superspeedway since 1971, Caudle did not hesitate the day Baptist pastor Frank Stark asked for a volunteer to help him start a ministry for race fans.

It was 1982 and Stark, a volunteer in missions with the then-Home Mission Board, wanted a ministry ready for the October race.

Caudle, a deacon at Dry Valley Baptist Church, Lincoln, volunteered his church for the meeting and helped lead the effort.

Speedway officials responded positively to the idea.

While the ministry sited have grown to six currently and have moved several times to finally end permanent locations, Caudle continues to play a major role by patrolling the sites in the morning and at night when possible.

“Harold has opened doors here,” said ARM volunteer Richard Alford, who is with the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. “All the full-time employees know him.”

Throughout his tenure at the track, Caudle has gotten to know not only speedway officials but also the drivers and crews. “I worked the garage gate from 1971 to 1982 and got to know a lot of the drivers like Bobby Allison, Donny Allison, Red Farmer and Marty Robbins,” Caudle said. “I even ate supper with Richard Petty during the last race he won here.”

Now that Caudle works in a fire and safety hub, he mingles more with the fans than the drivers, which affirms his decision to help start the raceway ministry.

“Everyone knows (we are here).”