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Team Dover stars at Monster Mile

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Zachary Cacicia
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Twice every year, NASCAR brings burning rubber, ear-piercing motors and tens of thousands of screaming fans to the Dover Air Force Base local area. When this transpires, Team Dover shows up at Dover International Speedway in force.

The weekend of May 30-June 1, was no different, as more than 100 Team Dover Airmen volunteered their time and sweat at the speedway by working the concessions, recruiting, holding flags in pit row during the singing of the national anthem, all while many Airmen received the opportunity to work as honorary pit crew members and the Dover AFB Honor Guard presented colors while Cassadee Pope sang the "Star-Spangled Banner".

Though Kyle Busch won the Lucas Oil 200, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, and the Buckle Up 200 presented by Click It or Ticket, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and Jimmie Johnson won the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks, the Airmen and other military members were the real highlight of the weekend.

Senior Airman Jeffrey Cisneros, 736th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, worked as an honorary pit crew member during Saturday's race and was thrilled by the opportunity he received.

"It was a pretty awesome opportunity for everybody," said Cisneros. "It really shows us how much [NASCAR] supports us by allowing us to have some fun with them for a change."

NASCAR and the Dover International Speedway have a long history of supporting the nation's troops.

According to Gary Camp, Dover International Speedway senior director of communications, NASCAR runs a program called "an American Salute," where they rally teams, tracks, fan and partners to honor America's service members. This year's salute started the Memorial Day weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway's Coca-Cola 600 and will run through the Independence Day holiday.

"We have a great relationship with Dover AFB," said Camp. "We are proud supporters of what they do for the community and for our country; and we are pleased to have the venue and the means to help support their initiative over here."

Sunday also saw Adm. James A. Winnefeld, Jr., Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, partake in the events during the pre-race, including administering the oath of enlistment to more than 40 new enlistees, driving the pace car and coining every driver.

"I'm here at Dover to honor America and to honor the men and women who have volunteered to serve our country," said Adm. Winnefeld. "It has been terrific; NASCAR has always had a great partnership with the U.S. military."

Along with the countless activities going on inside the speedway, many Airmen could be found inside the FanZone, located just outside of the stadium. Airmen from Security Forces, the fire department, and explosive ordinance disposal made themselves available to the public by showing off what they do on a day-to-day basis.

Also a large recruiting tent was set up displaying what the Air Force can offer potential recruits.

"We are here to try and find the next level of the latest and greatest," said Tech. Sgt. John Gress, 314th Recruiting Squadron recruiter. "We are looking for highly qualified individuals who want to join the Air Force."

Prior to the race weekend, a few drivers and their teams were given the opportunity to tour Dover AFB. They included Jeffrey Earnhardt with his JD Motorsports team, Reed Sorenson with his Tommy Baldwin Racing team, and also the NTS Motorsports team, ThorSport Racing team and the Germain Racing team. These tours included stops at the 436th and 512th Maintenance Groups' isochronal maintenance dock, where they witnessed the inspection process for a C-5 Galaxy. They also visited the flight line to view a static display of a C-17 Globemaster III, the Dover AFB fire department and the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center.

NASCAR returns to the Dover International Speedway, during the last weekend of September, for the AAA 400, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and the 5-Hour Energy 200, NASCAR Nationwide Series.