Troops get a morale boost from NASCAR

FORT WORTH, Texas -- In state that is home to over a dozen major military bases, it was only natural that a pro-military mood enveloped the Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday.

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The Samsung/Radio Shack 500 played host to a parade of military officials, including Air Force Brigadier General Toreaser Steele, who attended the event as a guest of the Wood Brothers. Steele is Vice Commander of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service in Dallas.

The Air Force is a major associate sponsor for the Wood Brothers' No. 21 Ford.

The Air Force had a full-scale effort at Texas to nab recruits -- they sponsored several events of the weekend, including two World of Outlaws races. The Air Force also employed a B-1 bomber, housed at nearby Dyess Air Force Base, to provide a pre-race flyover.

	Fans at Texas showed their support for the troops. Credit: Autostock

"Texas is such a supportive state of the military," Steele said. "This is an opportunity to give something back, but also to get some of those recruits who are between the ages of 17 and 30 who are interested in the Air Force."

Steele was instrumental in getting NASCAR-related funding from the Air Force, but Sunday's event was the first time she had been able to see the results first-hand.

"It's great to see the money I was fighting for -- what it goes for," Steele said. "It's so much more than what you see on television."

Steele says that the military's involvement in the sport is a morale booster to the military overseas and stateside.

"Things like this give them a boost," Steele said. "This (sponsorship) allows us to make the community aware of the Air Force and what we do, and to say thank you for the patriotism and being there with us.

	This Air Force bomber flew over the crowd at last fall's race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Credit: Autostock

"There are so many people who are praying for our troops."

Team owner Eddie Wood says the team gets emails every day from soldiers of all branches of the military serving in Iraq.

"We read every one of them," said Wood. "They seem to be very current on what is going on. After we finished fourth at Bristol, we had emails that night."