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Story by Staff Sgt. Michael Oliver, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs Office
Photos by Cindy Culver, Kentucky Guard Youth Coordinator
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[caption id="attachment_8335" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Kentucky Guard youth Samuel Nein, son of Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Nein of the 198th Military Police Battalion, interviews NASCAR icon Dale Earnhardt Jr. of the National Guard car at the inaugural Sprint Cup series race at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky., July 9."]
SPARTA, Ky. -- Kentucky Guard youth Samuel Nein interviewed Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR driver for the No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet Impala a day before the very first Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky., July 9.
Samuel, the 16 year-old son of Sgt. 1
st Class Timothy Nein, Headquarters Detachment 198
th Military Police Battalion, tested the communication skills he learned at the Kentucky Guard Youth Backpack Journalist camp held in May.
“Mr. Earnhardt is a down to earth kind of guy,” said Samuel. “It was like talking to a normal person.”
[caption id="attachment_8340" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Dale Earnhardt Jr. pit crew preps No. 88 for Kentucky Speedway first NASCAR race in Sparta, Ky., July 9."]
Kentucky Guard Youth Program Coordinator Cindy Culver said Samuel was picked to interview Earnhardt because he stood out at the backpack journalist camp.
“He has a very good professional attitude and you don’t see that often coming from a 16 year old,” said Culver.
One of the questions that Samuel asked Earnhardt was what Army job would he do if he was in the National Guard. Dale Jr. answered back a mechanic because he loves fixing things.
“I had a good time interviewing Mr. Earnhardt,” said Samuel. “It’s cool that he drives the National Guard car because it shows how he represents our Soldiers fighting for our country.”
Samuel's interview with Dale Jr. will be broadcast during the Montgomery Gentry USO Homefront Concert at the KFC YUM! Center in Louisville Ky., July 26.
For more information on the first ever USO Homefront Concert, please visit:
http://www.homefrontconcert.com/HomefrontConcert/
http://www.facebook.com/HomefrontConcert
You can also set up a ‘Watch Party’ with your family members by going to the
USO Homefront Concert Facebook page, “LIKE” the page and sign up for the Watch Party online kit.