BROOKLYN, MI – Kevin Kent didn’t plan on driving Bob’s bus.

Robert “Bob” Hugo was his best friend and he was happy that Bob drove the bus.

But in 2002, Bob fell ill with cancer and died, leaving Kent without his best friend and the bus without a driver.

“(The night Bob died) he dedicated his life to God,” said Kent, a northwest Ohio native. “At the time, it didn’t make any difference to me. … I bought the bus from his estate and named it ‘Bob’s Bus.’ I took it to the infield in Michigan and opened it up to everybody.”

In 2007, someone gave him $700 to take the bus to Talladega.

“Talladega is the biggest party place for miles around. I was so drunk on Friday that I woke up Saturday morning and saw that Motor Racing Network and Speed ​​Channel were here last night,” Kent said.

He couldn’t remember anything.

“‘Where did that come from?’ I asked my wife,” Kent said. “For some reason, I didn’t drink a drop of beer (the next day). I stayed sober all day and had more fun.”

The night before, Kent was with a guitarist from the band that was playing at Talladega. The next day, the guitarist approached him after seeing Kent’s condition.

He told him that he had prayed about it the night before. God told him to give Kent his Bible.

On the Bible were stickers from every state the guitarist visited on his missionary trips: Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Wyoming, Washington.

From that point on, Kent dedicated his life to God – just as Bob had done before his death.

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But Kent didn’t want to leave the infield and Bob’s bus behind.

Now, every year at races across the country, “Bob’s Bus” is placed in the infield and offers free breakfast, dinner, water and tours of the glow-in-the-dark indoor and outdoor areas.

A huge cross now stands above the bus, shining brightly at night. For some, it is a signpost to get home to their campsite.

It is a testament to Kent’s mission.

“I grew up in a religious family and just took a different path,” Kent said. “I believe God kept me alive so I could shine my cross in the darkest place where people are having fun.”

He didn’t add any stickers to the Guitarist’s Bible.

The sides are more worn and there is a tiny bit of neon orange paint spilled on the front – an impressive feat considering the rest of the bus is completely covered in paint.

Kent has baptized four people in Talladega so far and has prayed for thousands upon request.

“That’s where the cross in the infield comes from,” Kent said. “We just come here and love the people. I bring people who drink, it doesn’t bother me one bit.”

“It’s great to be an integral part of the infield.”