Author: Alan Cavanna
Date: Dec. 2, 2014
Champ and crew chief salute troops, are serenaded by school
NELLIS AFB, Nevada -- Given that they race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, it's not often that Kevin Harvick and crew chief Rodney Childers are awed by speed and power. But that was the situation on Tuesday at Nellis Air Force base, just outside of Las Vegas.
The duo, winners of the 2014 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, got an up-close view of the fleet of F-16s that make up the United States Air Force Thunderbirds squadron. Harvick's Chevrolet SS tops out at just more than 800 horsepower at speeds nearing 210 miles per hour. A Thunderbirds spokesman said their jets could travel at more than 1,000 mph.
The tour of Nellis was one of the first in a long list of events for Champion's Week in Las Vegas. Harvick's day started at the elementary school on base, where students sang Pharrell's recent hit song "Happy" to the champion (along with "The Closer", Harvick's nickname is "Happy.")
Harvick and Childers then met with airmen based at Nellis, touching on topics such as leadership and performing under pressure. Harvick won the championship by winning the final two races of the season. It came in his first year with Childers, who led a brand new team to a title in its first year. The crowd, many of whom were NASCAR fans, said they could see the similarities in what it take to perform on the racetrack and in their military duties.
The presentation ended with quick speech from the base's commander, Col. Richard Boutwell, and Harvick signing autographs and taking pictures with the airmen.
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