Air Force announces NASCAR sponsorship for 2013

News > Air Force announces NASCAR sponsorship for 2013

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Aric Almirola, driver for the Air Force-sponsored No. 43 car, stands near his ride prior to the qualifying round for the Sprint Cup Series Race March 9, 2012 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Almirola said he draws inspiration from Airmen as role models. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel Hughes)
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Air Force announces NASCAR sponsorship for 2013

Posted 2/5/2013 Updated 2/5/2013

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2/5/2013 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO - RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- The Air Force renewed its NASCAR partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports and the No. 43 car with driver Aric Almirola for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

"RPM's strong legacy in NASCAR and Almirola's values and character are a great fit for the Air Force and the type of recruits that we look to attract through the sponsorship, " said Col. Marcus Johnson, chief of the Strategic Marketing Division at Air Force Recruiting Service. "Our association with NASCAR and RPM is helping us achieve our strategic goal of connecting with the patriotic fan base and recruiting technically inclined youth."

The Air Force is both a primary and associate sponsor of the No. 43 car, driven by Almirola, a 28-year-old driver who was born on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and whose father served in the Air Force. As a primary sponsor, the car will feature the Air Force paint scheme in two of 36 NASCAR points races this season.

"I'm really proud of how Richard Petty Motorsports helps connect the Air Force with race fans," Almirola said. "We go out to the Air Force display and the swear-ins at the track, and it's great to see people lined up wanting to learn about the technology and the opportunities available. It's a perfect partnership, really, especially for me, having a life-long history with the Air Force."

The Air Force will also continue its experiential marketing activities at NASCAR events, air shows and festivals throughout the year, taking the No. 43 U.S. Air Force show car and "Hangar 43" interactive display to environments where recruiters can connect with young adults. It will also continue to hold swear-in ceremonies of Airmen in the Delayed Entry Program at NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, giving fans an up-close, in-person look at the moment when groups of young Americans commit themselves to their country.

(Courtesy of Air Force Recruiting Service)

Comments

3/13/2013 3:06:24 PM ET
I have to pay out of pocket for school -- something the AF said I shouldn't have to do they are cutting people left and right and they're preaching Do more with less...... but they are spending millions on a recruitment ploy

Deployed, SWA

3/13/2013 12:42:41 PM ET
Is it 1 April already

April's Fool, Home Sweet Home

3/13/2013 4:29:44 AM ET
Seriously This is nuts. We just pulled a carrier from the gulf and cut TA. I'm glad the mildly intoxicated will still have some entertainment though.

Hector, United States

2/13/2013 12:41:46 PM ET
Mean while back in the real world my vehicle fleet just got axed today along with mission essential vehicles and support vehicles. So we have to take away vehicles from units that really need them so that way the Air Force can pay NASCAR for a sticker to put on their car that will not generate enough potential recruits to even come close to offset that huge price tag. I think it's about time the Air Force gets its real priorities in order. This will be going to the IG Office tomorrow.

P.O'd NCO, Spangdahlem

2/12/2013 9:44:48 PM ET
NASCAR sponsorship Really At a base where my shop is undermanned our CJR's are constrained and we work extended hours consistently to maintain a leased aircraft that is expensive to repair and this is where our funding goes Hey China and Russia want to be number 1 Don't follow our example.

Disappointed, Joint Base MDL

2/8/2013 8:47:44 AM ET
For all you civilians crying about your furloughs cry me a river. At least you still have a job unlike many TERM and TEMP employees. Count your blessings.

TERMinated, Unemployment Line

2/8/2013 8:27:51 AM ET
The Air Force Cycling Team participates in RAGBRAI a week long cycling ride across Iowa and interacts with tens of thousands of potential recruits and influencers. Cost to Air Force Recruiting Service....0. Guess who pulled their support from the team after 2011....maybe we should have asked for millions of dollars.

BikeRider, OnTheRoad

2/7/2013 4:45:46 PM ET
The National Guard stopped its 25 millionyr sponsorship and later told the USA Today that out of 25000 leads from Nascar in 2012 20 were qualified and none enlisted.I wish this comment system would allow me to include the link to the story.

Randy, New York

2/7/2013 10:56:13 AM ET
How does the AF decide it doesn't have enough money for military members their families civilians training supplies but yet it can afford a NASCAR sponsorship Think someone has their priorities very mixed up.

Steve, FL

2/7/2013 9:27:49 AM ET
Gee maybe I can watch NASCAR on my 22 furlough days. What a colossal waste of money.

FtMeadeAFCiv, Ft Meade MD

2/7/2013 9:22:49 AM ET
I for one will be forwarding this to my Congressmand and ask that he address this wasteful expenditiure of funds.

SNCO Ret, Scott

2/7/2013 7:51:26 AM ET
Looks like some of your folks have lost faith in the system. How dare you question the budget priorities of people who outrank you you should know that AF leadership always makes the right decisions. As a wise person once said to lose faith in the system is to put self before service. Shame shame.

Sgt Whoever, conus

2/7/2013 7:25:47 AM ET
Looks like a DoD IG complaint for fraud waste and abuse. Leadership just doesnt get it.

Retired, Thankfully

2/7/2013 5:49:19 AM ET
I can understand putting money into something like this when retention is down and recruiting is hard. But I guarantee there is no difficulty filling our continuously diminishing manpower. If all recruiting funds except those required to run recruiting offices were eliminated I bet we would still meet our accession goals.

Realistic, Remote

2/6/2013 7:48:41 PM ET
Another thought - we're getting preached at about energy conservation yet we're paying a non-DOD civilian to drive around in circles for 500 miles. Not to mention we'll all be non-current for a year for lack of flying. Love you too Air Staff...

FGO, Maxwell

2/6/2013 7:00:48 PM ET
So if the goal is to recruit a bunch of beer swilling rednecks I guess this is the way to do it but really I agree with the other posters this is not the time to be wasting money just as all MAJCOM commanders are implementing drastic funding cuts.

Chris, Eglin

2/6/2013 5:41:51 PM ET
ABSURD WASTE OF MONEY

Sean PArker, Brooklyn

2/6/2013 5:16:20 PM ET
So the article seems to say that the pictured car is the AF car I can't see any sign of the AF Logo. Maybe if it was across the hood like the old Trans Am Eagle we'd be able to see it. Have any of you NASCAR fans ever heard of this dude I guess we'll also be hidden in the back of the pack in our 2 races. I wonder if leadership gets to see these comments I imagine not if this contract holds up.

Dave Brett, Tyndall Fl

2/6/2013 1:58:24 PM ET
Looks like Air Force Recruiting Service has too much money in its FY2013 budget. Anyone in Congress want to help take care of that

PB, US

2/6/2013 1:08:35 PM ET
The budget situation is worse than it's been in decades and yet AF leadership has decided to dump money into the NASCAR latrine again. What hogwash. Didn't they read the outraged comments about this in previous years RPM should be sponsoring the USAF not the other way around. If we have to do this lets pay for it with say five GO billets.

DMPI, Land of Confusion Arlington VA

2/6/2013 12:34:37 PM ET
NASCAR and Tops in Blue... Good to see the USAF is spending money right

Ned, CO

2/6/2013 11:18:14 AM ET
guarantee the air force can spend zero money on recruiting and there will still be a line of qualified applicants at the recruiters office.. way to waste money big blue.

bob , no place like home

2/6/2013 9:27:14 AM ET
We're going to have to pay some of you aircraft maintainers to walk away so we can write USAF on this race car and hopefully recruit some aircraft maintainers. Good plan USAF.

ActiveSNCO, MD USA

2/6/2013 8:37:45 AM ET
It is nice to know what constitutes mission critical. We must cut all flight training can't buy needed supplies stop hiring...but it is mission critical to put the AF logo on a race car for two races. Wrong message at the wrong time.

Jerry, Oklahoma

2/6/2013 8:05:05 AM ET
I wonder how many GS employees would not need to be furloughed if they didn't do this--or maybe the Tricare fees wouldn't need to be increased quite so much.Retired in TX

Lee Hincher, San Antonio TX

2/6/2013 6:58:07 AM ET
Sequestration looming and we are going to sponsor NASCAR The powers that be really need to get their priorities straight. Not a great message to send in this fiscal environment.

Open-Minded, Peterson AFB

2/5/2013 9:38:39 PM ET
So we can't send airmen to get required training or hire any civilians to fill openings but can sponsor a race car This makes absolutely zero sense.

Jason, United States

2/5/2013 6:40:57 PM ET
Way to spend money in an intelligent way Being overmanned obviously recruiting is not an issue. You just cost a couple of shoe clerks their jobs

Pitbull, North Carolina

2/5/2013 5:49:30 PM ET
Check out howitworks.com search nascar sponsorship. 1 car 1 race 350000 to 500000 depending on the details. I don't want to figure it out but I doubt I made 500000.00 the whole twenty years I was in.

bmlg, RetNE

2/5/2013 4:36:56 PM ET
Really furloughing civilians one day a week for 22 weeks and spending dollars we are short of on NASCAR

Ed Barrett, JBSA-Randolph AFB

2/5/2013 1:29:04 PM ET
So how much will 2 out of 36 real races cost the AF This news story the same day we must cut back spending and personnel.

Retired Dave, Tyndall Fl

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