Mark McFarland, driver of the #88 Navy Chevy in the Busch Series and his team owner, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. have a new perspective on the word. On Monday the two flew with the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Crew, the famous Blue Angels [F/A 18 Hornet], in El Centro, Cal. There they were introduced to speeds in excess of mach 1.2, or 890 mph, and G-forces seven times that of their body weight. “That is the roller coaster that they can’t build,” sounded Earnhardt, Jr. “I thought we pulled a lot of G’s at places like Bristol and Atlanta, but riding with these guys gives you a new perspective. This is a testament to the condition they are in.” Lt. Kevin Davis, Blue Angel No. 7, put the two through roughly an hour each of twists, turns and rolls over the mountains that border NAF El Centro, which is the winter home of the Blue Angels. Pensacola, Fla., The Cradle of Naval Aviation, is their home during the “flight season.” A “season” can be made up of 35 locations, the same as a NASCAR Busch season The Blue Angels are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year. By comparison, NASCAR is 58-years-old. (see more and images at the Jr Motorsports site)(2-28-2006)
