Photo By Sgt. Cheri Cramutolo | NASCAR fans wait in line to have their photo taken with Nevada Guardsmen and the...... read more read more
LAS VEGAS Nev. - Recruiting hits the big time with the National Guards latest addition to the sponsorship family - Dale Jr. and car #88.
The new sponsorship of Dale Jr. as the driver of the National Guard car is just one of the latest attempts for the National Guard to elicit interest of civilians into participation in the guard.
"The National Guards past participation in NASCAR has been successful," said Sgt. 1st Class James Fricano with the Nevada National Guards Recruiting Battalion. "The intent of the national program is centered on brand awareness and building a stronger Guard community. A stronger community builds the National Guard as a brand image and bolsters the Guards recognition."
The National Guards NASCAR recruiting display is relatively new. This is the third time the display has been used. "Thousands of people have gone through the display since it was first introduced at the Daytona 500," said Fricano. The display itself is quite impressive; it consists of 2 inflatable archways, an inflatable awning, an automotive display area, a 90 seat mobile theater, and an actual Dale Jr. National Guard car 88 display vehicle.
Spectators from all over walked through the National Guard recruiting display at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. "They got to take a look at some of the auto parts used in Dale Jr.'s car and they saw a short video where Dale Jr. himself explains his transition to car number 88," said David Castineta, contractor for the Guard display. "I think the biggest hit out of all of the display items is getting your photo taken with the car and Nevada Guardsmen," said Castineta.
"The first thing I did when I got to the Speedway is come to the National Guard display, said John Thomas, Las Vegas Nevada resident. "I think its really cool that the National Guard has Dale Jr. as their driver, I support the military and I'm a big NASCAR fan so this pairing just seem to be natural for me, said Thomas." I think its important for people to show their support for what the military is doing, they are putting their lives on the line to protect us, we need to be thankful," said Thomas.
Fricano said that the National Guards participation in NASCAR fosters a sense of pride and ownership within the Guard community and that even though this is intangible, it is easy to see how NASCAR influences morale and esprit de corps within the ranks. "I think having a driver of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s caliber and namesake will increase the program's success by leaps and bounds, versus having an "also ran" driver," said Fricano
"It shows the NASCAR fans (who happen to be the biggest and fastest growing major spectator sport audiences in the United States) that just as with NASCAR tracks, teams and drivers that we [the National Guard] are a community based grassroots organization," said Fricano.
"Our participation in NASCAR puts the Army National Guard on a level field in the eyes of the public with our other armed services who sponsor NASCAR, and shows that we're a player in the recruiting world and the war-fight," said Fricano.
Recruiting encompasses a number of different efforts, "Because of the way the program is set up I think it would really be impossible to determine the number of leads directly generated by National Guard motorsports. Being trackside is just a small part of the branding/recruiting effort," said Fricano.
Dale Jr. and the National Guard car # 88 made a great showing at the UAW-Dodge 400 coming in second at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Carl Edwards car #99 took the purse winning his 2nd race in a row at the Vegas Motor Speedway.
| Date Taken: | 03.11.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 03.11.2008 11:57 |
| Story ID: | 17243 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 694 |
| Downloads: | 637 |
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