Kahne trades driver's suit for military garb in visit to Fort Bragg
The United States military has a massive presence on NASCAR race weekends. Throughout the weekend, soldiers, airmen and sailors are seen walking the garage and along pit road, either taking in the sights as a fan or being an integral part of the prerace festivities.
That will be the case once again during the annual Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Memorial Day weekend. As it has done for years, the speedway will pay tribute to all members of the military, with more than 6,000 active duty service members and their families on site for the weekend's events.
During the Coca-Cola 600 prerace activities, soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division will repel from helicopters onto the frontstretch grass, as other soldiers fire blanks out of howitzers to show off the firepower of the U.S. military.
In addition, 600 soldiers will march on the speedway frontrstretch to help unfurl the American flag for the national anthem.
"NASCAR and Charlotte Motor Speedway have been tremendously supportive of all of our soldiers," said Major General Jefforey Smith. "It's pretty amazing to have 90,000 people stand up and clap their hands just to honor soldiers, their families and the sacrifices soldiers make for our country. It's really reflective of the character and values Charlotte Motor Speedway has, what NASCAR has, that they would take time out of a very important event -- like what happens at every NASCAR event -- to recognize those that defend our country and do it voluntarily."
On Thursday, three-time Coca-Cola 600 winner Kasey Kahne reversed the roles and took a trip to Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina to get a taste of military life and try his hand at some military training.
Kahne, along with FOX NASCAR commentator and analyst Kenny Wallace and Miss Sprint Cup Julianna White, got a dose of what military members go through on a daily basis.
Kasey Kahne meets with a military family that are fans of the Hendrick Motorsports driver.
"I think there's a lot to take away," said Kahne. "The training these guys go through to be perfect and the passion they have for it, to be the best and to be perfect, is similar to racing in a way, but it's way different. That passion, you can tell these guys have it, and they're very good at what they do."
As part of their experience, the three put on their packs and helmets to leap off the 34-foot tall jump tower, used to prepare paratroopers for the riggers of jumping from an airplane.
With soldiers watching, the three made their jumps successfully and floated down the cables to the other end. However, to no surprise, Miss Sprint Cup received the most cheers from the crowd when she shouted, "Airborne!" on her way down.
.@kaseykahne jumps out of the 34-foot tall tower training with the @82ndABNDIV. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/UAP8jM0Wcd
— Jay W. Pennell (@jaywpennell) April 23, 2015
From there it was off to the mess hall, where Kahne ate lunch with three Gold Star Families, all of whom have lost family members while they served overseas.
After lunch, the group headed to Pike Field where a group of soldiers was waiting with a howitzer and recon equipment.
While the soldiers gave a demonstration on the power, speed and perfection behind the howitzer, Kahne was next up. Straddling part of the weapon, the Hendrick Motorsports driver worked with the rest of the team as the blank was loaded and the imaginary coordinates were called in.
Reluctantly, Kahne pulled the trigger and fired the massive weapon that has the capacity to reach upward of 14 miles. After climbing from the firing position, the driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet moved to catching the spent chamber after both White and Wallace took turns firing away.
"I didn't really know what to expect," said Kahne. "The howitzer was unreal. The power. I was scared to pull the trigger on that thing. Really scared."
@Kenny_Wallace shoots off a howitzer with @kaseykahne. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/uVY1rNzRTn
— Jay W. Pennell (@jaywpennell) April 23, 2015
Up next, the soldiers showed off the equipment used in their six-man recon teams, sent out ahead of time to survey and scout areas up ahead. After going through the radio equipment and firepower they carry, the soldiers put a parachute and pack on Wallace as if he were going to jump as part of their team.
With the day's events behind him, Kahne reflected on what it meant to spend a few hours on base, learning what it takes to be part of the U.S. military and how many people are truly involved.
"To see how big Fort Bragg is, to see the amount of families here -- family and military members. Also, meeting with a couple of the ladies at lunch and enjoying time with them. Two of them were race fans, their husbands had been race fans -- one of them wasn't, but she was still great to hang out and talk to, and I learned a little bit there," he said.
"It's been a great day," added Kahne. "I didn't really know what to expect today, and it's been much better."
Kasey Kahne (center) helps fire the howitzer with members of the 82nd Airborne Division.
General Smith believes Kahne's visit went a long way in boosting the morale of soldiers on base by allowing them to see an athlete like Kahne doing what they do every day as part of their training.
"Kasey and guys like that are icons in motorsports, and I think it gives them a sense a satisfaction that somebody of that nature and that success would come out here and take time out of their day to experience what a soldier goes through, what a paratrooper goes through," Smith told FOXSports.com. "It just reinforces the perception that is real about how NASCAR feels about servicemen and women. To have him here today, I think that reinforces that with our soldiers about the relationship, that it's real and genuine; it's not just about marketing."
Kahne did not come away from Thursday's event without a battle scar of his own, though. He suffered a slight cut and bruise on his jawline after leaping from the 34-foot jump tower with helmet and gear on his body.
When he made the initial jump, Kahne believes he was facing the wrong way when the ropes caught, throwing his head the opposite way.
"It's good," he said with a smile. "I'll feel it for a few days."
Kenny Wallace is all geared up and ready to be a paratrooper.
