Military personnel seldom forget the stops they make along their career paths, particularly the stateside bases where they were once stationed.
For two key members of the NASCAR family, this weekend will double as a homecoming.
Al Niece, the founder of the Craftsman Trucks team that still bears his name, was stationed at Naval Base Coronado during the war in Vietnam. Jeff Swearengin, an interior mechanic and tire specialist for Ty Gibbs’ No. 54 Toyota, was stationed at Coronado a dozen years ago.
Both Niece and Swearengin were Marines attending the same Forward Observer school on the base, albeit five decades apart.
“The biggest thing I’m experiencing is pride,” Swearengin said recently about returning to Naval Base Coronado as part of a historic NASCAR event.
“I still have a lot of Marine buddies living in San Diego. As soon as this race was announced, I was on the phone. Anyone who has ever been stationed at Coronado has to be psyched by this. If you’re in the military, a base becomes part of you. You take pride in where you served and what you did.
“Coming to Coronado is huge for all of us in NASCAR. We can share a little of who and what we are with some great people who live and work at Naval Base Coronado. But for me, it’s a little bit more. I was one of them, even if it was for a short time.”
“I’m very proud of my service,” said Niece, who believes he is one of two Vietnam veterans still active in NASCAR’s three national touring divisions. “I don’t remember much about the base. But I remember I loved being a Marine.
“I do remember it was a huge base. My guess is I won’t know how to get around.”
Both Swearengin and Niece said they’re excited about meeting with active members of the military while on the base.
“I remember what it was like to be younger and on the base,” said Swearengin. “Any perk that comes your way is exciting. But I doubt the base personnel are any more excited than we are from NASCAR. This is such a great opportunity for our sport to reach out and say ‘thanks’ while helping the Navy and the nation celebrate No. 250.”
The one thing Swearengin will be short on is mingling time. He has two key jobs on Gibbs’ car that will demand much of his time and attention.
As an interior mechanic, Swearengin is pretty much responsible for everything around the driver in the cockpit. He’s also the crewman who removes the layers of plastic coating from the windshield during pit stops. And as the tire specialist, he’s also the crewman who compiles readings on tire wear during practice sessions and the race.
“I think this weekend will be one of coolest things I’ve ever been a part of,” said Swearengin. “And I probably feel a little bit closer to the core of the idea.”
“This race weekend means the world to me and other veterans,” said Niece. “What I see above all else is NASCAR and the Navy and all the military for that matter working together to raise the awareness of what we all stand for. NASCAR is saluting the Navy the best way we know how.
“And might this just be a start.”
Notable
All available general admission tickets for the three days of racing have been sold. Only scattered suite tickets remain.
• During the construction of the track, more than 150 manhole covers and sewer caps were welded into place. Most of that work was completed by Navy Seabees as a training exercise.