The Simpsons take in the beauty of the Springfield Nature Preserve. As they make their way through the wilderness area, a loud buzzing can be heard in the distance. The sound turns out to be a giant motor speedway, with stock cars driving noisily around the track.

The Simpsons make their way across the infield, narrowly avoiding a racecar as it bursts into flames. The driver, two-time NASCAR champ Jeff Gordon, takes Bart for a spin around the track. Soon after, the grandstand fills with people. Amongst the race car enthusiasts is the Flanders family, who sit behind the Simpsons.

Cars line up in the pit area and a track announcer tells the drivers to start their engines. One driver, Dale Earnhardt, experiences mechanical difficulties and pops the hood of his car. When Homer sees this, he drops his pants and moons Earnhardt, much to Maude Flanders’ dismay. Soon after, Jeff Gordon helps jumpstart Earnhardt’s car and the race gets underway.

Later, as the crowd grows restless and drunk, cheerleaders use air cannons to fire bundled-up T-shirts into the stands. Using ketchup, Homer draws a bulls-eye on his belly, drawing the cheerleaders’ fire. Unfortunately, Homer bends down to retrieve a gumball….and Maude is struck by the T-shirt bundle, knocking her off the stands. She plummets to the ground and dies.

Inside Springfield Cemetery, near the gravestones of Bleeding Gums Murphy, Dr. Marvin Monroe, Beatrice Simmons (Grampa’s girlfriend) and Frank Grimes, townspeople gather to hear Reverend Lovejoy’s eulogy. Afterward, Homer and Marge offer Flanders their assistance. Flanders thanks them for their kindness, but decides to go to bed. Later that night, a guilt-stricken Flanders awakens Homer and laments that if he had done things differently Maude would still be alive.

Several months later, Homer presents Flanders with a videotape that he and Lisa compiled. On it are testimonials from people throughout Springfield, along with flattering footage of Flanders. Homer believes that once the tape is given to a dating service, Flanders will attract a suitable companion in no time. Though Flanders is grateful for Homer’s efforts, he believes it is far too soon to begin dating. But a lonely Flanders has a change of heart and mails the tape to a dating service.

The dating service sets Ned up on a series of dates with different women, but for various reasons, none of them pan out. Flanders concludes that the one woman he will ever love is buried in Springfield cemetery. He begins to lose his faith in God, and on the following Sunday, sends Rod and Todd off to church without him. But moments after his sons leave, Flanders has a change of heart and drives like a maniac to church.

Inside, the Christian rock band Kovenant plays for the parishioners. Flanders is instantly smitten with the lead singer, Rachel Jordan, who sings about her love for God. After church services end, Flanders assists Rachel as she lifts a heavy amp onto the group’s van. Flanders tells her he is recently widowed, but when Rachel offers to have a cup of coffee with him, Flanders declines, as he doesn’t feel quite ready. Rachel tells him that when the group returns from their tour, she will be in contact. Flanders watches with a hopeful smile as the van drives off.