In the Pits- KSR
Air Force re-enlists with Wood Brothers for 2007
The United States Air Force will return as both a primary and associate sponsor of the No. 21 Wood Brothers/JTG NASCAR NEXTEL Cup team. 2007 will mark the seventh consecutive year in which they have backed the famous No. 21 car. Ken Schrader will kick off the 2007 season by driving the No. 21 Air Force Ford Fusion in the Bud Shoot-out at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 10.
In December, Schrader opened the ARCA test session at Daytona in a Wood Brothers-prepared Ford. The team used the ARCA test to help their NASCAR Nextel Cup series program and to get some experience for 22-year-old Keven Wood, who was behind the wheel for most of the test. Schrader gave Keven, whose racing experience has been limited for the most part to Late Model stock cars, a quick tour of the high banks in a passenger car before taking the first testing laps in the ARCA car.
The Daytona testing sessions capped a busy “off-season” for the Wood Brothers/JTG team. Along with repairing, refitting and repainting racecars and refurbishing pit equipment in preparation for the 2007 season, the Wood Brothers built a new studio on site to handle photo and video shoots.
The Air Force will further their relationship with the Wood Brothers/JTG Organization by activating their primary sponsorship in seven additional events during the rest of the season, including Las Vegas, the Coca-Cola 600, the July Daytona event, Pocono, the Bristol Night race, Richmond and Dover.
Third-generation driver Jon Wood will be behind the wheel for all but one of the primary sponsorship races in the No. 21 Air Force Ford Fusion. “Having a chance to represent the United States Air Force is an honor for me,” states the 24-year old Stuart, VA native. “To me, it stands for the men and women who put their lives on the line around the world every day so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have.”
Schrader and Jon Wood will share the ride in the No. 21 Cup car this season, with Wood behind the wheel for the 10 races that Schrader doesn’t start.
According to Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Mike Rowland, who is in charge of USAF’s NASCAR-related programs, their association with the Wood Brothers/JTG Race team has brought extended benefits to their recruitment efforts. “We target four million graduating high school seniors each year by seeking the same target audience that follows the high-octane sport of NASCAR,” he states.
|
