Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s NASCAR number 88 on display at the Valley City National Guard Armory. Earnhardt’s racing team is sponsored in part by the Army National Guard. (Steve Browne/VCTR)

By Steve Browne
Valley City Times-Record

    National Association of Stock Car Racing (NASCAR) Army National Guard Car number 88 came to the Valley City National Guard Armory  Thursday.     The car is an exact replica of the one driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr., except for some secrets that Earnhardt would rather the competition didn’t know about.
    “This is officially a show car, but it would take about two-and-one-half hours to make it race ready,” said Mobile Event Team Driver Dave Mailman.
    The National Guard is co-sponsored with Amp Energy Drink, of Earnhardt’s racing team, said Sgt. Keith Geigle, the North Dakota National Guard mobile event coordinator.
    “We heard that Earnhardt was looking for a new sponsor so we went after him pretty hard to sponsor his car. And I believe he went to a military academy high school, so he was more than willing to do it,” Geigle said.
     Geigle said they display the car but don’t directly approach people about the Guard, though at every event they get at least one or two inquiries.
    “We’re building public awareness about the Guard,” Geigle said. “It’s a big, big billboard.”    And as for the car, “It’s a pretty impressive car. I’ve never seen one up close though I’ve seen them race,” said Valley City resident Bob McAllister.

For full story, see Monday's edition of the Valley City Times-Record.