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The U.S. Navy and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are partnering on a national recruiting program that'll officially kick off when Junior pilots the above #83 car in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race on May 24. On that very same day, prospective sailors will also be able to visit their local recruiting stations and sign up to be a part of the new "Dale Jr. Division" being formed at the Navy's Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, IL. We are not making any of this up.
This new boot camp division is limited to 88 slots, a nod to the number worn by Dale Jr.'s NASCAR Sprint Cup ride. The Navy will support the new recruiting effort with a full media offensive, and Earnhardt Jr. will be on hand to christen his namesake division when its recruits report in August. Junior will also make a return trip to visit the group when it completes the basic training course. We eagerly await the logical next step in this high-profile partnership with Dale Jr. -- a Navy announcement that funding for a high-banked oval at Great Lakes has been approved.
[Source: Navy NewsStand]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jeff Johnson @ Apr 29th 2008 8:47AM
I'm going to take a guess that anyone that was "on the fence" about signing up for the Navy who is now convinced to join just because there is a "nascar" theme unit or something.... its going to be the brightest penny in the fountain.
I think its pretty low of the government itself to captailze on people signing over their lives based on some stupid race car theme. My hat goes off to the people that serve our country but don't sign up just because you like Nascar.
Chris @ Apr 29th 2008 9:00AM
I see it adding more to the support of the military than just getting people in. To me this does more for those in. It brings positive attention to their work.
Allan @ Apr 29th 2008 9:03AM
So was he in the Navy? Does he know anyone in the Navy? What exactly is the connection... other than the dollar signs?
Will @ Apr 29th 2008 9:04AM
It would be much cooler if Dale Jr. would actually go through boot camp with the guys in his division. Hoo-rah!
wattsnu @ Apr 29th 2008 9:16AM
Does this mean, that since the Navy paid money to be a sponser, and that the Navy gets its money from the Tax Payers, that we (the tax payers) all are now funding the Nascar sport?
adrenalnjunky @ Apr 29th 2008 9:53AM
The US military: Navy, Army, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Border Patrol and I'm sure I'm missing a few have always tied themselves to motorsports - Junior isn't their first foray into this genre. This has been going on for decades in stock cars, drag racing, off-road racing, motocross/supercross, superbikes, etc - you name it, and they've sponsored something revolving around it.
As far as the taxpayer dollar helping fund a race team, it's really no different than any other form of advertising for the military - TV/Print/Radio etc... If the military's marketing departments didn't think they were getting proper exposure, they wouldn't be doing it, and those same tax dollars would be sent elsewhere in hopes of drawing attention, support, and enlistees.
ricotubbs @ Apr 29th 2008 11:39AM
If you really think about it, we the American consumer have a role in funding every Nascar team. The majority of the companies behind all the teams ultimately receive their money from us.
mroverlord @ Apr 29th 2008 9:49AM
Yes..and it's not unusual. The Army and National Guard have had NASCAR and NHRA Teams for years.
h8rain @ Apr 29th 2008 9:51AM
"This new boot camp division is limited to 88 slots, a nod to the number worn by Dale Jr.'s NASCAR Sprint Cup ride."
Ummm the number in the picture is 83........
VP @ Apr 29th 2008 9:56AM
That 83 car is a one off deal. The regular Navy car number is 88 which is owned by Dale Jr and driven by Brad Keslowski.
Marko @ Apr 29th 2008 10:01AM
I'm no Nascar fan but i'm assuming different series, different number instead of a mistake on this one.
adrenalnjunky @ Apr 29th 2008 10:01AM
His Sprint cup car is the 88. The car pictured is a Nationwide (was Busch) series car. Junior owns his own Nationwide race team and typically fields 2 cars int hat series as an owner - the 88 Navy car driven by Brad Keselowski, and the 5 car driven usually by one of the Hendricks racing drivers (Junior, Jimmie Johnson, or Casey Mears) In this case the 5 was already scheduled to be driven by Jimmie for that race. When Junior decided to do this promotion, he had a 3rd car built up for himself to drive. He wouldn't want to take Keselowski out of the 88 for that race, as he is doing well in the points, and is already driving a Navy sponsored car.
h8rain @ Apr 29th 2008 10:24AM
Thanks for clarifying (I don't watch/follow Nascar). I only read this because his shop is down the street from my office.
go navy @ May 12th 2008 12:56AM
The number of recruits for this division has nothing to do with his car number. all recruit divisions have a max of 88.
Quattrofan @ Apr 29th 2008 10:33AM
yvaN ehT nioJ.
sw @ Apr 29th 2008 10:41AM
Only if I get the harem girls that were shown in the video
Bert @ Apr 29th 2008 10:46AM
So is Jr. joining the Navy or the Navy Reserves?
Pat @ Apr 29th 2008 11:45AM
Do they get special PJs and bedsheets as part of the Nascar Bootcamp?
Ray @ Apr 29th 2008 12:13PM
No way does this make me want to join the military.
Now...if they tied it in with the Senna foundation and Formula 1, I'd be in for sure.
boilermaker @ Apr 29th 2008 2:55PM
"We are not making any of this up."
I actually laughed when I read that!