Sorenson gets the ride of his life in Air Force jet

Capt. Dustin Ripley, an F-15 pilot with the 95th Fighter Squadron, gave NASCAR driver Reed Sorenson the ride of his life on Jan. 21 at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida.

"Taking a ride in an Air Force jet is unlike any training I've done for NASCAR," Sorenson said. "I have great respect for the Air Force and I'm honored to represent them in the No. 43 car."

Reed Sorenson and Capt. Dustin Ripley

The incentive flight at Tyndall AFB was part of an effort by Air Force Recruiting Service to prepare Mr. Sorenson for the 2009 season and educate him on what it really means to be an Airman.

"We wanted Reed to learn about the Air Force first hand and there is no better way to do that than flying with an Air Force unit," explained Col. Tim Hanson, chief of strategic communications for the Air Force Recruiting Service. "Reed and his crew chief, Mike Shiplett, met dozens of Airmen and talked about the similarities of launching a fighter mission or preparing a winning race car. Both take dedicated professionals and lots of teamwork. We are confident the experience helped give Reed and Mike a better understanding and appreciation for the Airmen they will represent on the track."

The incentive flight will be followed by a two-day visit to San Antonio, Texas, where Reed will meet with Air Force trainees going through basic military training.

While at Tyndall AFB, Sorenson and Shiplett were filmed for a series of "webisodes" in which the NASCAR men compare notes with Air Force pilots. The series, Switching Seats, is set to debut on www.airforce.com in March.

The Air Force announced in November both a primary and associate sponsor with Richard Petty Motorsports, formerly known as Gillett Evernham Motorsports, for the No. 43 car driven by Reed Sorenson. As a primary sponsor, the car will feature the Air Force paint scheme in four of 38 Cup races this season.