Photo By Staff Sgt. Tracy Smith | Daniel Kletnetsky, NASCAR senior public affairs coordinator for the International...... read more read more
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ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY, HAMPTON, Ga. – Georgia’s National Guardsmen were honored during the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) Great Clips 500, Saturday, in partnership with the Armed Forces Foundation (AFF) at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The Troops to the Track race weekend originated with a handshake between NASCAR and AFF five-years ago and has grown into an occasion to remember for service men and women throughout the country.
Daniel Kletnetsky, NASCAR senior public affairs coordinator for the International Motorsports Center, was personal host to the group during the track tour. He called the departure from his normal duties a personal privilege and the Troops to the Track event a humble opportunity to give back to the small numbers who are willing to do so much.
“We, at NASCAR, would not be able to do what we do if you did not volunteer to protect our country,” Kletnetsky said. “This is a small thanks compared to the huge responsibility you have committed to.”
A behind the scenes look at pre-race events was eye opening for the group of Georgia Citizen-Soldiers. The tour at Atlanta Motor Speedway was a stargazing race fan’s dream as they were given full access to the pits, the tracks and, most important to Sgt. Shatoric Fletcher, the cars!
Walking through the garage pits Fletcher felt right at home and half-jokingly asked the Dale Earnhardt National Guard crew if he could lend a hand.
“I’ve been a military driving professional nearly my entire career,” the Hilltop, Georgia, native said. “It’s nice to get a quick glimpse under the chassis of these race machines.”
Spc. Savannah N. Glover had aspirations of driving professionally like her idol, Danica Patrick, but her mom quickly nixed the idea.
“My mom said it was too dangerous,” Glover laughingly shared. “So I joined the military.”
She never lost sight of her dream.
“As a little girl I was very into (video) racing games and go-carts, anything fast, hoping one day I could take the wheel of a real NASCAR!” Glover, a native of McDonough, Georgia, said. On this special day she settled for Patrick’s autograph and a chance to walk through the pits with the 7th place finisher for the weekend. ”There aren’t a lot of professional women drivers and to have the honor of seeing her was a dream for me.”
As a supply technician for the 648th Brigade Support Bn. Glover works tirelessly to ensure her Soldiers are ready for whatever mission may arise.
The NASCAR team has placed the same level of commitment into each of their events and was able to expand upon the 2014 Sprint Cup series Troops to the Track events. Previous years the organizations were limited in the number of offerings for their military guests.
“This year we are able to bring the NASCAR VIP treatment to more of our military,” Klenetsky pointed out. “Troops to the Tracks will be able to offer the experience at 27 of our series races.”
On the track the racers are gearing up for Saturday’s run and the Soldiers pose for send-off photos with their host driver, OneMain Financial’s Elliott Sadler who rounded out the top ten finishers.
“Its one thing to experience the race from the stands,” Georgia National Guard chaplain candidate, 1st Lt. Jeffery C. Charlton commented. “Even if you aren’t a die-hard race fan, this is pretty cool.”
| Date Taken: | 08.30.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.01.2014 20:59 |
| Story ID: | 140913 |
| Location: | ATLANTA, GA, US |
| Hometown: | HILLTOP, GA, US |
| Hometown: | MCDONOUGH, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 120 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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