Air Force participates in "Monster" weekend

Published June 4, 2013
By Tech. Sgt. Chuck Walker
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Two times a year NASCAR brings its show to the "Monster Mile" at Dover International Speedway Dover, Del. Each time, the military puts a big stamp on the event.

The weekend of May 31-June 2, was no exception. While Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and Tony Stewart (winners of the NASCAR Camping Truck, Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup races respectively) were tearing up the track, Air Force members were working the concessions, recruiting, holding flags during the National Anthem and getting the opportunity to be honorary pit crew members.

For Team Dover members, the races turn into week-long events with the Race Weekend Meet and Greet, base tours by various NASCAR teams, performing Honor Guard duty or manning the 436th Security Forces Squadron patrol car.

Gary Camp, senior director of communications for Dover International Speedway, said that participation is vital to the event.

"We couldn't put on the show we do without the help and support of Dover Air Force Base," said Camp. "From playing a role in the pre-race festivities, to working in our hospitality and ticketing areas, service members from Dover can be found in key roles all over our property on race weekend."

This race weekend featured base tours with NASCAR Camping Truck Series driver Todd Bodine, along with tours for Rousch-Fenway and Joe Gibbs Racing. The base also hosted a Race Weekend Meet and Greet on Friday that featured Sprint Cup driver Greg Biffle.

Jennifer Vallee, 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs chief of community relations, said a lot of hard work from everyone on base goes in to making a race weekend a success.

"Team Dover is proud to support race weekend," Vallee said. "There is a lot of give and take: drivers and team members sign autographs and tour the base to see the mission in action and shake hands of the Airmen who accomplish it. We show support by sending Airmen as honorary pit crew members, recruiting efforts in the Fun Zone and ceremonial guardsmen. Our goal is to pair our Airmen with a great American tradition."

On race days, the Air Force, like the drivers themselves, are very active. On Saturday and Sunday, the Dover AFB Honor Guard presented the colors and Maj. Barry Ingram, 512th Airlift Wing chaplain provided the invocation before the start of the Five Hour Energy 200 Nationwide Series race. Sunday, Col. Rick Moore, 436th AW commander, Chief Master Sgt. Jim Smith, 436th AW command chief, Col. Raymond Kozak, 512th AW commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Bryan Ford, 512th Maintenance Group chief enlisted manager, participated in the pre-race festivities, which included a parade lap around the Monster Mile.

Airmen also had the opportunity to serve as honorary pit crew members for various drives on each of the race days. Lt. Col. Charles Kelm, 436th Civil Engineer Squadron commander served as honorary pit crew member on Sunday for drivers J.J. Yeley and Dave Blaney.

Kelm said it was an experience he will never forget.

"Having Tony Stewart (who ended up winning the race at Dover) say thank you for your service and all your Airmen do is something special," Kelm said. "Getting to stand on pit road next to J.J. Yeley during the National Anthem was great as well."

He said the drivers and the team members couldn't have been better hosts to him and that the experience was humbling.

Camp summed up the feelings of the local community for Dover AFB.

"We are proud of 'our base' and the dedicated men and women stationed there who give us much more each day than we could ever give to them," Camp said.