Last modified Wed., May 07, 2008 - 03:42 PM
Originally created Thursday, May 8, 2008

NASCAR comes to NAS Jax

By MC1(AW) Toiete Jackson, Fleet Public Affairs Center Detachment Southeast

NAS Jax Commanding Officer Capt. Jack Scorby Jr. greets NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., right, and NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski during their visit to NAS Jax May 1. Earnhardt is the team owner of the No. 88 Navy Accelerate Your Life Chevy Nationwide Series entry, driven by Keselowski. Photo by MC1(AW) Toiete Jackson

Twenty-five racecar fans aboard NAS Jacksonville got a chance to meet Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his driver, Brad Keselowski, on May 1 as they were en route to a carrier embark. The Sailors were chosen by their master chiefs for their outstanding work ethics as well as their love of NASCAR racing.

Earnhardt, voted NASCAR's most popular driver for the past five years and team owner of the No. 88 Navy Accelerate Your Life Chevy Nationwide Series entry, along with Keselowski, who currently sits seventh in driver's points in the series, came to NAS Jax as part of the Navy Motorsports' "Sailorization" program for Keselowski. Keselowski represents the Navy brand at each of the 35 Nationwide Series races around the country, plus a race in Mexico and Canada.

"The Navy sponsors a number of cars in the Nationwide Series for a full season as part of recruiting/retention brand awareness efforts for us. As a part of that, we like to bring the team out to different places and events that the Navy is involved with and show them the Sailor part of life," said Lt. j.g. Andrea Ross, Navy Motorsport program manager. "We call it sailorization because we are teaching what we all do here in the Navy."

NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. is interviewed by local news media during his visit to NAS Jax May 1. Earnhardt and NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski stopped at the NAS Jax Air Terminal en route to USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) for a tour of the carrier and to meet with Sailors. Photo by Kaylee LaRocque

Earnhardt and Keselow-ski answered questions about the Dale Jr. Division, which is going to be an integrated division comprised of 88 recruits at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Ill.

Earnhardt will commission the new division, work out with the crew during their training and tentatively attend their graduation. It's a hands-on mentorship. They also autographed the lucky Sailors memorabilia they brought with them.

"I'm looking forward to boot camp," said Keselowski. "Most people don't consider racecar drivers as athletic and I want to prove them wrong."

SK2 Gerald Sanders assigned to NAS Jax Air Operations just got into watching NASCAR and was pleased to meet Earnhardt and Keselowski. "I like fast cars and fast bikes," said Sanders. "I love the fact that they are representing the Navy. They keep us entertained."

NAS Jax Commanding Officer Capt. Jack Scorby Jr. presents NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. with a commemorative plaque as NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski looks on. Photo byMC1(AW) Toiete Jackson

NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. gives some 4-year-old Cameron Novak an autographed picture during his visit here May 1 as his dad, Cmdr. Ron Novak of Commander, Navy Region Southeast looks on. Photo by Kaylee LaRocque

AVCM(AW/NAC) Ted Gallinat of VP-30 gets a toy racecar autographed by NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. at the NAS Jax Air Terminal May 1.

AME3 David Mahoney of VS-32 meets NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. during his visit to NAS Jax.

Sailors from NAS Jacksonville line up for an autograph from NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski. Photo by MC1(AW) Toiete Jackson