NASCAR is gearing up to hold its first-ever race on a military installation this weekend when all three national series hit a brand new road course at San Diego’s Naval Base Coronado.
And, for the occasion — which is celebrating the U.S. Navy’s 250th anniversary — the Haas Factory Team has unveiled a very special livery in conjunction with Texas A&M University that pays homage to former Naval aviator and the 41st president of the United States, George H.W. Bush.
The team showed off the slick scheme that they will run on driver Cole Custer’s No. 41 Chevrolet Camaro in Sunday’s Anduril 250: Race the Base.
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Even if you took out all of the cool nods to the former president — including the fact that it’s the No. 41 car — that’s a sharp-looking hot rod.
“We’ve been thrilled to help tell Texas A&M’s story the past two seasons, and we’re particularly proud to help tell this chapter,” Haas Factory Team President Joe Custer said in a statement. “President Bush lived one of the greatest American lives. We’re all better off today because of what he did for our country. For our team to race the No. 41 in tribute to him, and now celebrate all he stood for, is a rare honor.”
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Bush was one of the youngest Naval aviators during World War II, after enlisting on his 18th birthday. He served in the Pacific and even survived getting shot down in 1944.
The late president’s grandson says he would’ve appreciated the honor.
“He often said that having a US Navy aircraft carrier named in his honor was among the proudest moments of his life,” Sam Bush LeBlond said. “It represented values that guided him throughout his life: service, duty, and love of country. I know he would be incredibly touched to see his legacy celebrated at Naval Base Coronado and proud to know this tribute is helping share those values with a new generation of Americans.”
I’m looking forward to seeing this bad boy on track in what is sure to be a special race.
