RICHMOND, Va.?The backdrop for the announcement of the U.S. Army?s sponsorship of Revolution Racing couldn?t have been more different from the circumstances of the news conference that was scheduled?and canceled?more than two months ago.
On Thursday night, Darrell Wallace Jr., drove his Revolution Racing Toyota to victory in the K&N Pro Series East race at Richmond International Raceway.
In mid-February at Daytona, the Army had to postpone its announcement of support for Revolution Racing?the flagship organization of NASCAR?s Drive for Diversity program?after Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) introduced an amendment that would have blocked the armed forces from using taxpayer money to fund NASCAR sponsorships.
The amendment was voted down 281-148, largely along party lines.
Lt. General Benjamin C. Freakley of the Army Accessions Command, the branch of the Army that oversees recruiting, said Friday that racing sponsorships are enormously valuable in counteracting a declining awareness of the Army among young potential recruits.
Freakley also believes the Revolution Racing sponsorship dovetails perfectly with the Army?s goals.
?It is critical for our Army to be diverse. We have to represent America, its geographic diversity. We?ve got to come from all of America and our territories. We have to have gender diversity in our Army, because women bring great, great strength to our force. We have to have racial diversity, because, again, that same strength comes from all the great minds and the great leaders that come into our Army, and we also have to have educational diversity, because we want critical minds thinking about tough problems that soldiers get thrust into.
?The second point?s that we?re values-based. We focus our Army on the values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. The third point is that what the Army offers young people today is an opportunity, education and leadership. And we?re also hugely about teamwork. If we?re not a team, we don?t win. And we?re also all about winning.
?I?ve known (Revolution Racing owner) Max Siegel since 2007, and he represents exactly those same values, those same ideas about diversity, opportunity, values and winning. Young Darrell here proved last night that, by investing in people who take an opportunity, they pay out by being winners. This is such a match for the Army.?
Siegel is thankful the Army recognizes value in promoting the careers of young drivers, both male and female, from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.
?The financial support is a tremendous help,? Siegel told Sporting News. ?We?re in a constant battle, like everyone else, to find resources, to financing our programs, focusing on technology and reinvesting in the team.
?It really means a lot to us that someone would really see value in investing and creating opportunities for the young people, and also, candidly, to get a return on their investment from a marketing standpoint. So for us, the financial resources help, the association helps, the manpower and all the values the Army brings to our organization really help move us forward.?
No comments:
Post a Comment