NASCAR fever spreads in the wing's maintenance operations flight

  • Published
  • By Stacy Vaughn
  • 445th Public Affairs
NASCAR fever is running high for one office at the 445th Airlift Wing. Master Sgt. Steve Dunn and Master Sgt. Jeff Hurtt, both assigned to the maintenance operations flight, love to share the latest news happening in the NASCAR circuit with their co-workers and anyone who's a NASCAR fan. 

Sergeant Dunn blames his NASCAR addiction on Sergeant Hurtt. "I got hooked because Jeff was always talking about NASCAR. Then I started to get interested in it because there wasn't anything to watch on the weekends after football season ended. I watched my first NASCAR race, the Daytona 500, back in February, and then I became addicted," Sergeant Dunn said. "It was when I attended my first race in Bristol, Tenn., that I was hooked on NASCAR. I absolutely loved it." 

Sergeant Hurtt has been a NASCAR fan since 1994 but a race fan all his life. "I started out in motor cross racing in southern Ohio when I was a kid. Most recently I participated in the Richard Petty Experience down at the Kentucky Speedway. The Richard Petty Experience gave me the opportunity to drive a race car while following another car driven by a professional trainer. We drove eight laps with an average lap speed of 136 mph. Then we did four laps that reached near qualifying speeds of 185 mph," Sergeant Hurtt said. "What a great opportunity. You get to smell the oil and exhaust and experience what it's like to be a NASCAR driver," he said. 

Sergeant Dunn said his wife is now interested in NASCAR and says it's great when you can share your passion with your spouse. "When we went to Bristol, we walked around outside the Bristol Motor Speedway, and I told her, 'Robin, you have to pick a driver now so the race will mean something.' The driver she picked won the race. Now I don't have any more trouble talking her into going to any races now," he said. 

Sergeant Hurtt said Sergeant Dunn shows all the signs of being a NASCAR fan. "He's bought a NASCAR jacket; he follows all the races on-line; and keeps track of all the drivers. He's also been buying the NASCAR model cars," Sergeant Hurtt said. Five NASCAR model cars are displayed on Sergeant Dunn's desk. 

Sergeant Dunn said when he went to his first NASCAR race he brought communication gear that he had borrowed from another NASCAR fan in the wing, Tech. Sgt. Scott Stein, aircraft maintenance squadron. Sergeant Stein showed him how to use the equipment and said how much fun it is to listen to the drivers and mechanics. The equipment allows the fan to listen in on the drivers talk to the crew chiefs about any problems with their car and what they plan on doing when they come back into the pit. 

"After I bought my Bristol tickets, so many NASCAR fans in the wing told me what to take, what to wear, what to look for, what to expect, and how to get the most out of my Bristol visit. The fans sitting around me and my wife (at the race track) thought that we were racing veterans." 

Sergeants Dunn and Hurtt both credit their supervisor, Senior Master Sgt. Garry Merrill, for encouraging them to pursue their passions and enjoy their interests. 

"Everyone in MOC has a different interest. I encourage them to pursue their interests and I'll work with them to do this," Sergeant Merrill said. "I keep track of NASCAR but not near as much as these guys do."