Officials from both the National Guard and the American Drag Racing League took part in the formal unveiling of the two-car 2009 National Guard ADRL drag racing team with drivers Joshua Hernandez and 2006 ADRL Rookie of the Year Travis Swearingen at ADRL headquarters in O'Fallon.
 
Joining Hernandez, the five-time ADRL national event winner and his red '57 Chevy on the National Guard team for 2009 is the 26-year-old Swearingen, whose '41 Willys has been a mainstay of National Guard ADRL Pro Extreme competition. Officials from both the National Guard and the American Drag Racing League took part in the formal unveiling of the two-car 2009 National Guard ADRL drag racing team with drivers Joshua Hernandez and 2006 ADRL Rookie of the Year Travis Swearingen at ADRL headquarters in O'Fallon.
 
Joining Hernandez, the five-time ADRL national event winner and his red '57 Chevy on the National Guard team for 2009 is the 26-year-old Swearingen, whose '41 Willys has been a mainstay of National Guard ADRL Pro Extreme competition.

"We're extremely excited to have an up-and-comer like Travis joining Josh in proudly displaying the National Guard colors for 2009," said SFC John Metzler, program manager Army National Guard Bureau Recruiting and Retention Command. "We truly believe it is the ideal compliment to our new title sponsorship of the ADRL."

For Swearingen's family owned and operated team, Swearingen securing the National Guard sponsorship has been a dream come true.

"This is huge for us," said Swearingen. "We're a family operation. It's all in house. To be considered for the National Guard sponsorship is a true honor."

In 2008, Swearingen scored his first National Guard ADRL event victory at the Shelor Motor Mile Independence Drags II at the Motor Mile Dragway in Radford (VA).
"It will be especially satisfying to add to that total as a representative of the men and women of the Guard," said Swearingen. "And I look forward to meeting all of the members of my new team – the National Guard ADRL team."
 
Both men already have an established, but friendly, on-track rivalry and Hernandez believes that it will make the sight of both National Guard cars in the Pro Extreme final that much more exciting.
       
"Team red versus team blue, now that's something everyone should start getting used to," said teammate Hernandez.
 
"That's what I call the path to victory for the National Guard," added Hernandez, echoing the Guard's motto of offering each of its members a pathway to their goals in life.
 
The 2009 edition of the National Guard ADRL race team will make its debut at the season-opening Safety-Kleen Dragpalooza V at Houston Raceway Park on March 6-7.