Mark Martin’s #8 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevy will pay tribute to the 100th anniversary of the United States Army Reserve in this weekend’s Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway. The hood on Martin’s Impala SS will be covered with the Army Reserve’s 100th anniversary logo and tag line — Army Reserve, 100 Years Strong. The history of the Army Reserve dates back to April 23, 1908 when Congress established the Army’s first federal reserve force. The Army Reserve began as a small force of approximately 160 medical professionals. Today, the Army Reserve consists of 205,000 soldiers and is an operational, expeditionary and domestic force that is an essential piece of the U.S. Army. Joining the Army Reserve contingent for Saturday night’s Cup race will be a local hero — Staff Sgt. Christopher Cruse, a Phoenix native who received multiple honors for his service in Iraq, including the Purple Heart, Combat Action Badge and the Army Commendation Medal. Cruse was severely injured when his humvee was struck by an anti-tank mine on July 25, 2004. He is currently back in Phoenix, serving as an Army Recruiter in the Glendale area. Taking into account how Martin has performed in Phoenix, there’s a good chance the Army Reserve car will run up front. In 22 races at the one-mile oval, Martin has one win, eight top fives and 14 top 10s. In addition, the veteran has led a track-high 608 laps, including 137 in the last three races.(DEI), see an image of the scheme on my #8 Team Schemes page.(4-9-2008)
