They weren’t exactly sure what to expect as their bus arrived at receiving area, but they sure found out in a hurry. NASCAR Busch Series driver Hank Parker Jr. and his entire Rick Rathbun’s Team Marines Racing crew visited the Parris Island (SC) Recruitment Depot on Jan. 27, as guests of the U.S. Marine Corps. They had just completed a two-day test session at Daytona. On arrival, they were ushered onto a bus and driven to Receiving, where all recruits go as they take their first steps toward becoming a Marine. As soon as the bus came to a stop, a drill instructor boarded the bus and began barking commands, drawing the undivided attention of a group of racers who at this point weren’t completely sure of what was about to happen. Drill instructors ‘greeted’ their new ‘recruits,’ who then experienced firsthand the beginnings of boot camp. As soon as the ‘Sir! Yes sir!’ response was mastered, the racing recruits were ‘ushered’ inside for further indoctrination. Following a morning of tours and observing new recruits in their element, Hank Parker Racing’s personnel dined in the Mess Hall. Chow time delivered a pleasant surprise: turkey, spaghetti – and a host of other good-tasting dishes – served in a spotless, subdued dining hall, complete with table cloths. Following lunch, the team headed for the rifle range and instruction on the Marines’ weapon of choice: M-16s. Following safety training, Parker and his men were invited to try their luck with live ammunition on stationary targets. Some fared surprisingly well. Others, well, let’s just say they’d be better suited for the Motor Pool. Parker’s team was also invited to observe a relatively-new Marine exercise, known as the Crucible. Basically a 54-hour enduro punctuated by sleep and food deprivation, it is the recruits’ final test before earning the right to be called a Marine. The session is purposely scheduled to end at sunrise, at Parris Island’s Iwo Jima monument. After the flag is raised, recruits graduate to Marines, receiving their eagle, globe and anchor emblems. It is truly a moving experience, etched forever in the hearts and minds of the former recruits – and onlookers as well. Before departing for North Carolina, Parker met with Brigadier General Stephen A. Cheney, Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruitment Depot Parris Island/Eastern Recruitment Region and presented him with an autographed photo of the team. Outside, the drill instructors were waiting, this time to present a commemorative plaque to Parker and his team(Team Marines PR) also see an image and the full story at the Unofficial Hank Parker Jr Site and the story at RaceWire(1-29-2000)
