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NASCAR: Wallace Honorary Member for Navy Re-Enlistment

29 June 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

CHARLOTTE, N.C., (June 26, 2000) - There are many ways to serve ones country this Fourth of July weekend - you can watch the fire works in the sky, you can cook out with your family or, as in the case of U.S. Navy Aviation Electrician, Jim Faircloth, commit to another four years with the U.S. Navy at a NASCAR Winston Cup Series event.

Kenny Wallace, driver of the Square D/Cooper Lighting Chevrolet, will serve as an honorary guest for the re-enlistment of Faircloth before this year's Pepsi 400 NASCAR Winston Cup Series event at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

"It looks like I'll get to do my civic duty this Fourth of July weekend," said Wallace, who will join Faircloth, his wife Michelle and their nine-year-old son, Ben, in Daytona's victory lane at noon on Sat., July 1. "It's an honor for me to be invited to Jim's re-enlistment. Winston Cup drivers have a lot of fans, but the real heroes are the men and women, like Jim, that defend our country."

Faircloth, is a 16-year Navy-veteran from Roseboro, N.C. The 35-year-old's Naval rank is E-6, Aviation Electrician First Class. He's currently stationed with Patrol Squadron 16 in Jacksonville, Fla., and Saturday's re-enlistment is the last of his military career.

"I was stationed in Sicily, Italy, and my friend, Roy Brown, told me that he re-enlisted in front of Kenny Wallace's hauler two years ago," recalled Faircloth about his idea to re-enlist at a NASCAR track. "He told me how much fun it was to hold the ceremony in a Winston Cup garage. I sent an e-mail to the Square D offices, and the next thing you know the phone rang.

"When you're born and raised in North Carolina, Winston Cup is the sport you're raised to love," continued Faircloth. "At my re-enlistment, the biggest thrill will be talking to Kenny one-on-one. He's one of the most entertaining drivers in NASCAR."

Square D is the flagship brand of the North American Division of Schneider Electric, and is a market-leading brand of electrical distribution, industrial control and automation products, systems and services. Schneider Electric, headquartered in Paris, France, is a global electrical industry leader with 1999 sales of approximately $8.9 billion.

Cooper Lighting is one of the world's largest manufacturers of fluorescent, incandescent and HID (high-intensity discharge) lighting fixtures. Its products are used in residential, commercial, industrial and institutional applications, including shopping centers, sports facilities, parking lots, outdoor monuments and high-security areas.

Text provided by Chris Hunt

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.