Eglin firemen keep NASCAR teams safe

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Mike Meares
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs --  When a multicar crash happens at Talladega Superspeedway or when crewmembers get hurt along pit road, there is a group of professionals always ready to put their lives on the line to save another -- firemen.

Four firefighters from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., John Piccuito, J.R. Suddarth, Jimmy Reed and Perry Beote, are among a nationwide group of firefighters who travel here each spring and fall to help keep drivers and race teams safe. The Eglin firefighters take one week of leave from work twice a year to perform their unusual part-time job.

Sometimes that means protecting the race teams from themselves.

“A successful event for us is having no one know we are there,” Mr. Reed said.

Every morning, the team gathers together to discuss the daily agenda and important safety items -- especially on race day.

Race day begins as fans pour into the infield to check out the cars, pit crews and drivers. Anything can and does seem to happen during a race, whether it is in the stands, in the pits or on the track.

“You never know what’s going to happen next,” said Mr. Piccuito, pit fire supervisor at the race. “We’ve had cars rolling down pit road completely engulfed in flames, unconscious drivers, injured pit crew members and out-of-control cars hit the pit walls. You just never know.”

When 43 race cars get together and run inches from each other at more than 190 mph, something is bound to happen.

“The risk is always there, but (NASCAR) tries to minimize it for the drivers and the fans,” Mr. Reed said. “We bring street smarts to the track. The fire and rescue teams are made up of firemen from all over the country who work vehicle accidents every day.”

The experience the firefighters gain on the streets comes in handy for them as cars roll into the pit area at 55 mph, sliding into a 30-foot pit space for a 10-second or less tire change and a fill up. Sometimes there is not enough room for the pit crew and all the cars trying to make pit stops.

Heat from the cars, gas fumes, metal gas cans and lug nuts could each cause a disaster. To cover each stall, a fire and rescue team member stands ready in every pit stall with his hands on a fire extinguisher, watching the action closely in front of them. They have a pit supervisor who stands by backing up a small group of firefighters.

During the spring race here, Rusty Wallace, driver of the No. 2 car, did not know he ran over the leg of the jack man for the No. 31 car. The pit fire crew, watching the event unfold in front of them, jumped into action.

“The fire crew pulled the jack man over the wall and started the initial care,” said Mr. Suddarth, a four-year veteran of pulling firefighter duty here. “Pit road action continued, and the whole crew was still covered. They filled the gaps immediately.”

There have been many incidents for the over-the-wall crew involving crewmembers struck by cars. Although considerably slower than the 190-mph track speeds, cars can still be lethal weapons at 55 mph. The firemen in the pit stalls understand the danger involved and respond as quickly as possible.

“It’s amazing how quick (the emergency crews) are in their response to the wrecks. These guys are putting their lives at risk as much as (drivers) do,” said Kerry Earnhardt, car No. 33 driver. “They are out there with vehicles that go much faster than anything on the street.”

The drivers and teams know the firefighters are right there in case something happens. Ricky Rudd, the driver of the No. 21 Air Force car, knows they are there, but does not necessarily want to talk to them during the race.

“Hopefully we won’t have to see any of them on race day,” Mr. Rudd said. “That means everything has gone smoothly. It’s unfortunate at Talladega -- they usually have their hands full with the big multiple car wrecks.

“I have a lot of respect for those guys and my hat’s always off to them and what they do,” he added.