News

Two Team Dover members experience Dover Race in unique way

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Charles Walker
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER, Del. --  Each year, twice a year, Team Dover Airmen get the opportunity to take part in Dover Delaware's premier spectator event, NASCAR Racing.

Some volunteer to help with parking, some as vendors, some just come as spectators.

Two Dover Airmen experienced the race from a whole new perspective.

Staff Sgt. Jason Lecuyer, of the 436th Maintenance Squadron and Master Sgt. Aaron Lewis, First Sergeant of the 436th Force Support Squadron, were each selected by their units and the base to represent Team Dover at the AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on Sept. 26, 2010.

While four-time Sprint Cup defending champion Jimmy Johnson was winning his sixth race at Dover, Sergeant Lecuyer and Sergeant Lewis were getting a different perspective of the race, like getting to watch the race from pit road.

Both of them also got introduced by a driver during driver introductions and got to ride around the track with their driver during the pre-race parade. Carl Edwards introduced
Sergeant Lecuyer and Greg Biffle introduced Sergeant Lewis.

For Sergeant Lecuyer, it was especially exciting, since his favorite driver is Edwards.
"It was a great experience," Lecuyer said. "There are no words to describe it really. This whole thing, It's really hard to put into words. It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience."

The process for selection was pretty competitive and it was a quick turnaround. Senior Master Sgt. Terry Torsky, who is assistant flight chief of the 436th Maintenance Squadron, said the process began with an e-mail.

"I got an e-mail from my commander looking for a top troop from each section," Torsky said. "Then we had to write some brief facts about why they deserve this honor, just three bullets. We looked at different areas, like what have they done for the Air Force, the unit, deployments, have they volunteered. We looked at all areas, looking for the well-rounded person. And he's the one who filtered through everything. (Sergeant Lecuyer) not only does his own work, but he has taken on two to three extra duties as well."

Sergeant Lewis, who is a big NASCAR fan, it was a great opportunity to see the race from up close.

"Oh, this is big time, this is right up my alley," said Lewis. "I would've been here in the stands even if I wasn't selected for this. I've never been on pit road before. This is a great opportunity."

Sergeant Lecuyer spent most of his time just taking in the race from different vantage points. He watched the race from pit road, then the outside perimeter of pit road, from his seats in the Richard Petty Grandstand, then he just walked around and watched the race from pit row and the infield.

The best experience though, according to Sergeant Lecuyer, was meeting and talking with his favorite driver, Edwards.

Sergeant Lecuyer said he can't get over how personable and friendly Edwards was to him.

"I can't get over how down to earth he was," Lecuyer said. "We talked about each other's careers, we talked about each other's kids, just talking like two normal people. I really didn't expect that from a professional NASCAR driver. We just talked like two normal men. That was probably the highlight of the race for me."