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December 01, 2006
Army vs. Navy
By Mark Young
During my browsing around the Internet looking for tidbits to feed my racing fix I stumbled across some excerpts from a Mark Martin interview on Sirius Speedway talking about the moves he has made and deals he was working on for the 2007 season. After reading Mike Harper's latest blog, http://blogs.thatsracin.com/turn3/2006/11/forget_the_girl.html#more I decided to chime in on it. It seems that Mark had contacted Dale Earnhardt Jr. regarding the possibility of running a partial Busch Series schedule in the #88 Navy sponsored ride but went on to say that the Army and the Navy nixed it. Now why in the world would two of our Nation's military branches say this is a bad idea?
The first thing that came to mind regarding the Army and Navy not agreeing to let this happen is who actually provides the sponsorship dollars? We the American tax payers do! I have had some issues with this considering the millions of dollars it costs to sponsor a team, but in the same sense it is a great form of advertising to potential enlistees. To have the opportunity to have an experienced winning driver behind the wheel of not one but two cars sponsored by our military, in my mind, would serve as a great sign of unity. Both teams involved are Chevrolet so we wouldn't have the manufacturer's B.S. to worry about. Why would there be any dispute at all between these two parties?
Could someone please tell my why this was not allowed to happen? I am not a big Mark Martin fan but thought the idea had a ton of merit.
December 1, 2006 | Permalink
Comments
Mark,
I seriously doubt the Army or Navy killed it. They'd race skateboards if the Army could figure out how to make them go. LOL, J/K Army. More likely it's from the head budget guys. Because it's hard to justify spending the 20 million or so on a good team when you're wasting a billion a month on a war and asking for more money for weapons. And, actually I tend to agree. I like that it shows the colors and it gets sailors etc. into the crowds but it's a luxury not a necessity.
My solution to honor the 5 services (yes I even included the "Puddle Pirates.") Would be to propose that during the season, at 5 different races, 5 Sponsors voluntarily dedicate their cars to one of the services. It could be different teams every time. But, these cars could run for points for say an "Armed Services Trophy" based on those 5 races. Kind of a race within a race. It's a win/win. Those sponsors would have so much more race exposure from the announcers and our warriors get some recognition. And, it adds another trophy to the Navy's showcase!
Posted by: Keith | Dec 1, 2006 8:55:51 AM
The thing is Keith that the money is already spoken for and earmarked for these teams. The #88 will have Navy on it all year. Evidently the two services could not agree on letting him drive both cars.
Posted by: Mark | Dec 1, 2006 9:03:32 AM
I like my idea better.
Posted by: Keith | Dec 1, 2006 9:13:37 AM
Judging by the title of the Blog...I woulda thunk Keith authored it!...is it February yet?
Posted by: Tbfka#5 | Dec 1, 2006 3:15:42 PM
February? Heck they start testing in January thats close enough for me!!!!
Posted by: Mark | Dec 1, 2006 3:24:04 PM
#5,
Come on, even though I respect my Army warrior buddies, the Navy would have to be first in one of MY blogs! I have a good story on the Army's Navy...they have a few ships of their own...See now, I'm off topic. Nevermind and get back on topic, LOL.
Posted by: Keith | Dec 1, 2006 4:15:52 PM
I'm with #5 is it February yet?
Posted by: Diane Sadler | Dec 2, 2006 2:12:33 AM
OK Keith, now lets move this whole topic over to the bloggers and get a full discussion going. Sure love your idea about race within a race. Maybe we could get full time military personel to do the driving, another way to get the fans out to the Bush races. I'll put some money on the Tank Division.
Posted by: 328 | Dec 2, 2006 8:54:17 AM
328,
The Hummer has an Aero-Push and keeps leaving the track at the road courses.
Posted by: Keith | Dec 2, 2006 9:42:00 AM
Mark, Recruiting is the goal for the military to sponsor a car. The driver, to attract recruits, should be a young person. Mark Martin is a fine man, but is not a draw, and is a tad old for the assignment.
Posted by: Gene | Dec 2, 2006 7:09:26 PM
Good reply #5 "IS IT FEBRUARY YET !!!!"
You,Diane, Shirley and I are READY
Gene,I don't think Mark is too old to help bring new recruits into any service.Thats what he will be doing,and Joe and his Mother Martha have done a great job, so why can't he.
Mark great topic.
I can't remember where, I think Daytona,many years ago when a space was given to the services to place adds on race cars.It turned out to be a huge sucess.
I don't think the Army or Navy nixed the deal but it was someone had second thoughts about what the reprocussions from having a driver in one series driving for the competition in another series.It would be like a driver driving a Chevy in cup,and a Ford in truck.....wait that's gonna happen...ok try this then, a cup car sharing 2 very different companies joining to sponsor a car,like Dominoe's and Burger King......Oh wait that's gonna happen 2.
I my opinion, let him drive Jr's car in Busch.
Keith,this post reminded me of an old Army Navy football game.The score was tied and 6 min. on the clock,a train whistle blew,the Army thought the game was over,and left the feild,5 plays later the Navy scored the winning touchdown.
LOL of course Keith,you heard about the retired Navy Cheif who joined the Army, didn't you ???
SERIOUSLY yesterday 12-1-07 about 1pm eastern time our power went out here in eastern Ohio,and didn't come back on till to-day about 3pm. SO I missed the banquet.Any body got a copy,I could get ???
I am willing to pay the cost of duplicating/shipping,let me know....thank's
the answer is Keith,He raise's the IQ of bothe services.
Posted by: trucker | Dec 2, 2006 9:13:31 PM
Trucker,
My local listings are showing a rerun of the banquet at 2pm today.
Mark,
I don't think the Army or Navy nixed it,as much as Jr probably did.There's way to much confusion concerning Mark's deals right now.
Posted by: Short Lady | Dec 3, 2006 11:29:45 AM
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