Photo By Staff Sgt. Brandon Jacobs | Soldiers with Company A, Recruiting and Retention Battalion, Kansas Army National...... read more read more
KANSAS CITY, Kan. - A line of cars pulled up to the white starting line as the stands vibrated with energy. At the changing of a light from red to green, they surged forward in an unbridled display of speed and power. Thus began the 12th Annual Hollywood Casino 400 race at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Oct. 21.
Spectators included approximately 3,000 National Guardsmen, families and friends who received free tickets from Kansas Speedway to the Hollywood Casino 400 race.
“We appreciate the sacrifices the men and women of the Kansas National Guard and their families make to let us be able to host races at Kansas Speedway,” said Pat Warren, president of Kansas Speedway. “These tickets represent a small thank you of our deep appreciation for what they do and I hope they are able to enjoy an exciting day at the races.”Drivers and race fans from around the country began arriving as early as the morning of Oct. 18. Recruiting and Retention Battalions from the Kansas and Missouri Army National Guard partnered together for the race weekend to display many facets of the Guard.
“It’s pretty awesome to get to be out here,” said Pvt. Kyle Wilkeson, Company A, Recruiting and Retention Battalion, of Overland Park, Kan.
Wilkeson, who celebrated his birthday at the track, spent the weekend assisting civilians with the National Guard’s Physical Training Challenge booth and answering questions about the many military vehicles on display outside the track.
“It was cool to get to see the equipment,” said Wilkeson. “It helps civilians put things in perspective, maybe gives them a sense of security.”
The Kansas Army National Guard hosted the pre-race events.
Crowds of people swarmed around the fan walk to get their picture taken next to the National Guard Patriot Chopper, a motorcycle designed by Orange County Choppers of Orange County, Calif., and the Number 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. race car.
The National Guard had 15 vehicles on site, including a Kansas National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and two Missouri National Guard AH-64 Apache helicopters on display, with Soldiers standing by to answer any questions.
Pfc. Christian McGraw, a helicopter maintenance specialist with Company G, 2nd Battalion,135th Aviation Regiment, Kansas National Guard, from Wichita, Kan., was on the field to answer questions about the UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter.
“I like interacting with civilians and telling them about the Franken hawk,” said McGraw. “I wouldn’t fly in any other aircraft to be perfectly honest.”
McGraw explained it is called it a Franken Hawk due to the larger upgraded engines, which were taken from a UH-60L Black Hawk and added on to increase power and mobility in desert environments.
“NASCAR is the perfect event for the Army to show off its helicopters and vehicles,” he said. “People can hear the race cars engines on the track and get to see ours as well.”
Also on display from the Kansas National Guard were an M-2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle and M1A1 Abrams tank provided by the 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, and a M109-A6 Paladin howitzer from Battery B, 1st Battalion, 161st Field Artillery.
The events of the weekend were spotlighted on national television as part of a campaign by the National Guard Bureau to promote awareness of the National Guard.
“We are getting lots of national media attention at this event. Everyone will be watching what we do,” said Staff Sgt. James Hubbard, the marketing and advertising noncommissioned officer for the Recruiting and Retention Battalion, Kansas Army National Guard.
Despite a bit of wind and cold weather thousands of NASCAR fans were able to stop by and see what the soldiers of the Kansas Army National Guard do, as well as enjoy a few days at the races.
| Date Taken: | 10.21.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 10.25.2012 17:14 |
| Story ID: | 96772 |
| Location: | KANSAS CITY, KS, US |
| Hometown: | KANSAS CITY, KS, US |
| Hometown: | OVERLAND PARK, KS, US |
| Hometown: | TOPEKA, KS, US |
| Hometown: | WICHITA, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 219 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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