Crew member to leave team to re-enlist

By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive
October 12, 2001
2:52 PM EDT (1852 GMT)

MILLINGTON, Tenn. -- The events of September 11th have caused many people to set their priorities straight. The attacks have even prompted one NASCAR crew member to change careers.

When the NASCAR Busch Series season ends in November, David Swann will leave his position as the tire specialist for the No. 26 Chevrolet driven by Bobby Hamilton, Jr. Instead of gearing up for next season, Swann will be putting on his U.S. Air Force uniform as he re-enlists for four years.

He wasn’t planning on the career change, but that fateful day in September moved him to make the decision.

“Man, that really made me mad when that happened,” said Swann, 24, from Crofton, Md. “I love what I do here in racing, but the service makes me feel like I’m worth something when I’m doing that.

“There’s a lot more pride at stake when you’re serving your country. I had always thought about going back in, but that day sealed the deal for me.”

Swann served four years in the Air Force, working on helicopters and fighter jets. After his discharge last October, he felt the only place for him to work was in racing.

“I like fast things, what can I say,” he said with a laugh. “I used to race motorcycles, but a few injuries ended that. When I got out of the Air Force, racing was the place I went to find work.”

When he first entered the service, he was working on fighter planes. However, when his father became ill with cancer, Swann took a humanitarian transfer to Edwards Air Force Base to be closer to home. There, he began to work on helicopters. His father passed away in 1998.

At 24-years old, the young man who still wears his hair cut short seems years ahead of himself. He will finish the season out because he doesn't want to leave his team in a lurch.

“Even though I’ve been in racing for a year, there are still things to consider,” Swann said. “What if something happened to this team and we closed up -- not that we’re going to. But, what if it was to happen?

“There are 8-9 guys on this team that would get hired by someone else way before I would. In the military you have stability, it’s a good living and you can move up in rank. This time, I’m probably going to make a career out it.

“You have that pride thing, too.”