Coast Guard and NASCAR

The Coast Guard has had a very successful year sponsoring the Coast Guard Racing Team. The main driver, Kevin Harvick, is running away with the Busch Series Championship. So, I was very disappointed to see the following pop up on the message board.

R 201903Z SEP 06 ZUI ASN-A00263000041
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//G-C//
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS //N05700//
ALCOAST 474/06
COMDTNOTE 5700
SUBJ: COAST GUARD "21" RACE TEAM SPONSORSHIP
1. RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER TO THE COAST
GUARD. DRIVERS KEVIN HARVICK AND JEFF BURTON HAVE DELIVERED
ASTOUNDING PERFORMANCE, AND HAVE REPRESENTED THE COAST GUARD WELL,
BOTH ON AND OFF THE TRACK. THEY WON SEVEN RACES, AND KEVIN HARVICK
IS ON PATH TO NOT ONLY WIN THE DRIVERS POINT CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT ALSO
TO SET A RECORD FOR THE LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY IN THE HISTORY OF
THE BUSCH SERIES. THEY HAVE HELPED RAISE THE AWARENESS OF THE
COAST GUARD, AND MILLIONS OF RACE FANS NOW ASSOCIATE US WITH THEIR
SUCCESS.
2. UNFORTUNATELY, WE CANNOT CONTINUE THIS SPONSORSHIP FOR THE 2007
NASCAR SEASON DUE TO COMPETING FISCAL DEMANDS. THIS WAS A VERY
DIFFICULT DECISION, BUT WE MUST REMAIN READY TO MEET CURRENT AND
FUTURE MISSION EXECUTION REQUIREMENTS. NEW ACQUISITIONS, SHORE
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS, INCREASED OPERATING COSTS AND EXPANDING
MISSION DEMANDS REQUIRE US TO CONTINUALLY REASSESS ALL FUNDING
PRIORITIES.
3. OUR NASCAR SPONSORSHIP WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE END OF THE
2006 RACING SEASON, WHICH CONCLUDES NOVEMBER 18TH AT THE MIAMI-
HOMESTEAD SPEEDWAY. I ENCOURAGE ALL MEMBERS OF THE COAST GUARD
FAMILY TO CHEER KEVIN HARVICK ON AS HE CLINCHES THE SERIES
CHAMPIONSHIP. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING
FOR GIVING US SUCH AN EXCITING, SUCCESSFUL, AND REWARDING 2006
SEASON.
4. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.
5. ADMIRAL THAD W. ALLEN, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
BT
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