Team Faith Takes Their Message to Great Heights in Motocross, UTV, Watercraft Racing

Ex-motorcycle racer Kelly Smith battles the waves on his K&N-equipped watercraft at Atlantic City

While many racing operations have their hands full running in a single series, Team Faith has operated in several different powersports series, all at the same time. And they’re not there to make up the numbers, as demonstrated by the multiple championships and countless wins they’ve earned.

According to team boss Brian O’Rourke, K&N has been a consistent part of the Team Faith’s success since 2000. O’Rourke commented that not only do K&N filters make more power in all the various applications Team Faith has run, but never once in 16 years has there ever been a problem or an issue with a K&N filter.

Team Faith rider Gavin Gracyk competing in an Arenacross event in Worcester, Massachusetts in 2014

Team Faith is unusual in that it’s neither a professional racing team nor a hobby of the driver/rider. Instead Team Faith is a non-profit outreach ministry that seeks to connect with people enthusiastic about action sports. Team Faith was founded in 1994, first competing in professional personal watercraft racing, to which they recently returned, and have also competed in side-by-side off road racing, motocross racing, and freestyle motocross.

In addition to competing on the National Arenacross Series, Team Faith has also raced in the Supercross Series with Kevin Johnson, the 2008 X Games Gold Medalist in the Speed and Style Competition. 2011 saw the addition of Kelly Smith as the team’s Arenacross/Supercross rider. Smith won Arenacross main events in 2011, 2012, and 2013.

One of Team Faith’s FMX team riders showing off during an exhibition in Egypt in 2013

In 2012, Jeff Gibson was added to the Arenacross program and finished second in the Championship with several wins to his credit. In 2014, veteran rider Gavin Gracyk replaced the retiring Jeff Gibson in Arenacross competition. Team Faith has also competed in the GNCC Off-Road Racing Series, where its UTV team captured the 2009 GNCC Lites Limited UTV Championship and the 2011 GNCC Lites UTV Championship with driver Chuck Lemaster and navigator Brian O'Rourke.

If that’s not enough, Team Faith also competes in the Hydro Turf Watercross National Tour. In 2010, Team Faith’s first season back into racing personal watercraft, team founder Brian O'Rourke won the Pro Hydro-X Racing Tour Sport Spec Championship. In 2013, Motocross ace Kelly Smith tried his hand at racing watercraft and finished third in overall points for the Hydro Turf Watercross Nationals in two classes: Sport Spec and the Sport Open Spec.

Driver Chuck Lemaster and navigator Brian O'Rourke in UTV competition at the St. Clairesville, Ohio GNCC weekend in 2011

Furthermore, Smith won the US National Championship in the Sport Open Spec class at Charleston, WV, and also finished fourth overall in the same class at the IJSBA World Finals. He’s currently the defending Pro Watercross Tour champion, but is trailing the points leader this season in Sport GP.

Brian O' Rourke finished second in Overall Points for the Hydro Turf Watercross Nationals in both Sport Spec and Sport Open Spec classes and finished 7th Overall in the same class at the IJSBA World Finals.

In addition to all of that, the Team Faith Freestyle Motocross team has performed over 250 jump shows at festivals, fairs, corporate events, and for churches and youth groups all over the country.