U.S.S. Hue-City Crew Joins Star-Studded Pre-Race

Andretti, DIS work to bring crew to Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – When driver John Andretti traveled to the Middle East for seven days in December, he met and spent time with sailors from a number of different U.S. Navy vessels.

Now, they are returning the favor.

Over 50 crew and their families from the U.S.S. Hue-City will take part in holding American flags during pre-race ceremonies Sunday in the Daytona 500. Their attendance was arranged by Andretti through Daytona International Speedway and with the cooperation of Victory Brand, whose VB brand sponsors Andretti’s #14 VB/APlus At Sunoco Ford.

“I think it’s great that these guys and their families will be with us Sunday,” Andretti said. “They have given so much to us, I’m glad we can celebrate their return.”

With an invitation from the Naval Branch of America’s Armed Forces, Andretti flew into the country of Bahrain in December.  He met and spent time with sailors on several different Navy Vessels throughout the Middle East.  The importance of this trip during the holiday season was not lost on Andretti. 

“I feel obligated to try and do something for our military,” said Andretti.  “The Navy contacted me and was very accommodating.  This was a great opportunity for me, and I’m glad we were able to do something small to give back to them.”

The U.S.S. Hue-City, home ported in Mayport, Fla., and which just returned to the United States after 177 days, is an Aegis Class Cruiser primarily responsible for Air Defense but also very involved in land attack warfare with the Tomahawk missile system. The ship also carries two anti-submarine helicopters and can conduct anti-sub and anti-surface operations. It is 565 feet long, 55 feet wide with a crew of 350 men and women. The deployment took the ship to Norway, Italy, Gibraltar, Spain, Bahrain, Seychelles, and Croatia, and the U.S.S. Hue-City spent over a month in 5th fleet (Gulf Region) participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom providing security and other special services while on station. Deployed Aug. 20, 2004, it traveled in excess of 52,000 miles.

“John jumping on something like this is one of the reasons we love being involved with him,” said Steve Swick, CEO of Victory Brand, LLC. “Not only did he visit these ships in December, he found a way to help some of them see the Daytona 500 and be part of the pre-race ceremonies. Guys like John Andretti and (Daytona Speedway President) Robin Braig are the type of people who make NASCAR racing great, and we’re really proud to be associated with them.”