AIR FORCE GENERAL TO GIVE STARTING COMMAND FOR SHOOTOUT

 

Lt. Gen. Dennis R. Larsen, Vice Commander, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, will give the starting command for today’s Budweiser Shootout.  General Larsen was chosen to represent the United States Air Force for the Shootout event to watch the U.S. Air Force Ford Fusion driven by Ken Schrader lead the field of 21 cars to the green flag.  A NASCAR fan for over 30 years, General Larsen was given a ride in the Daytona pace car today prior to the start of Saturday morning’s practice session for the Daytona 500 entrants.  

 

General Larsen talks about the honor of being chosen to serve as Grand Marshal for the 70-lap event, and his pace car ride.

 

WHEN DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE GOING TO BE THE GRAND MARSHAL?  “I found out Friday afternoon.  I wasn’t expecting it when I came here so I was very excited about the opportunity.”

 

HOW DOES THIS COMPARE TO FLYING OR OTHER THINGS YOU HAVE DONE?  “There is nothing as exciting as flying an airplane, but this is very close.  I love NASCAR.  I’ve been a NASCAR fan ever since back in the 1970’s when I saw my first race.  And, I certainly never, ever expected to have the opportunity to have the opportunity to be able to be the Grand Marshal for a NASCAR event so this is a special treat.  I rode in the pace car today for a couple of laps around the track which was a lot of fun.”

 

BEING FROM WISCONSIN, WHO DO YOU CHEER FOR?  “I cheer for the 17 and (Matt) Kenseth, but right up there along with it is the 21 car of course.”

 

Ken Schrader, driver of the Little Debbie Fusion took his first laps in qualifying trim in the Wood Brothers Racing #21 Ford on Saturday.  And even though he only posted the 38th and 37th times on the speed chart he was still optimistic about qualifying.

 

“This isn’t the car we initially thought we were going to run in the 500 so we didn’t work on qualifying runs with this car, but I liked the way it drove a little better.  So that is what we were sorting through today.  We picked up about three tenths real quick, thought we had some more that last time out.  We’ll just have to see what we’ve got.”

 

YOU ARE GOING OUT NEXT TO LAST FOR QUALIFYING – WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?  “At Daytona it doesn’t make any difference other than if the wind kicks up.  That’s such a long time spread between 12:00 until whenever we go, that if the wind kicks up it could you hurt you.  If it is up at the start, but not at the end it could help you.”