About 1,000 people crowded into the Sports USA club Wednesday on Fort Bragg for a close look at one of sports’ most popular athletes, NASCAR Winston Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. Prior to the autograph session, Earnhardt got a limited view of Fort Bragg as he rode in one of the Army’s UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters. Low clouds and rain limited his view, but he came away impressed with the machine and its crew. “I’ve been in a lot of helicopters, but nothing like that. It was pretty cool,” he said. “There was some teamwork going on inside that kind of reminded me of what we do on Sunday. The guys on their crew are spotting for each other just like I have a spotter watching the track for me. It’s really overwhelming to come around military bases and see the different way of life.”(more at the Fayetteville Observer )(10-9-2003)
