A Day In The Life Of A NASCAR Official
|
06/22/2016 Jeremiah Thalheimer |
Ever since I started my job as an official with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, many people have asked me both what I do and what it's like, so I decided I would walk you through what a typical day is like for officials in my series. Enjoy...
7:30 AM Depart hotel for the track
8:00 AM - Meeting with the Series Director
Before our day gets going, he meets with us and go over the plan of the day. Also, the Tech Director will give us all our assignments for the day.
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM Unload the Hauler and Set Up the Tech Area
The tech area consists of three stations: templates, scales, and gauges. During this time, our series director will also meet with the crew chiefs and brief them on the plan of the day.
10:00 AM Inspection Begins
This consists of multiple areas. The teams will place their cars on jack stands and remove the tires while we each check our assigned areas. My assignment is the undercar, so I'll check things like truck arm length, rotor width, and whether or not the bolts are magnetic steel. Other areas that get check include safety equipment, fuel cells, and engines. Next, teams go through tech where the cars are checked with the templates, scales, and gauges. Once they pass all areas of inspection, they are given a tech sticker that allows the car on the track.
12:30 - 2:30 Practice
The West Series has two 45 minute practice sessions with a 30 minute break in between. We are assigned to monitor different areas such as garage traffic, track entry and exit, and giving the cars a quick safety check before they go on the track.
3:30 Pre-Qualifying Tech
Cars are once again checked with the templates, gauges, and scales before being impounded for qualifying.
5:30 Qualifying
Cars make single-car, two-lap runs and are captured as soon as they exit the track. Teams get one final chance to make adjustments before the cars are once again impounded for the race.
6:30 Autograph Session and Local Racing
After the autograph session, the host track will usually run two to three of its races. This is the last bit of downtime officials get, so we usually use this time to eat dinner. We have a group of ladies who are excellent cooks and do a great job stocking the hauler with plenty of food throughout the day and making sure we never go hungry.
8:30 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Race
After the last local race, teams begin moving the cars into position for diver introductions, and officials will begin heading to our positions as well. At around 8:15, Race Control does a final radio check with all officials. During the race, I'm assigned to the spotters' stand, so I help relay information from race control to the spotters and vice versa.
10:30 - Midnight Post-race Inspection
The top five cars head to tech for a final inspection. I once again check the undercar, and then random parts such as gears, shocks, and springs are removed and inspected as well.
Midnight - 1:00 AM Load Hauler
After post-race inspection is complete, we then pack up the hauler. Our series director will also hold a final meeting with us to discuss the day and the race. Since we are always celebrating someone's birthday, we finish the night up with a slice of birthday cake before heading back to the hotel to rest up for our travels home.
7:30 AM Depart hotel for the track
8:00 AM - Meeting with the Series Director
Before our day gets going, he meets with us and go over the plan of the day. Also, the Tech Director will give us all our assignments for the day.
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM Unload the Hauler and Set Up the Tech Area
The tech area consists of three stations: templates, scales, and gauges. During this time, our series director will also meet with the crew chiefs and brief them on the plan of the day.
10:00 AM Inspection Begins
This consists of multiple areas. The teams will place their cars on jack stands and remove the tires while we each check our assigned areas. My assignment is the undercar, so I'll check things like truck arm length, rotor width, and whether or not the bolts are magnetic steel. Other areas that get check include safety equipment, fuel cells, and engines. Next, teams go through tech where the cars are checked with the templates, scales, and gauges. Once they pass all areas of inspection, they are given a tech sticker that allows the car on the track.
12:30 - 2:30 Practice
The West Series has two 45 minute practice sessions with a 30 minute break in between. We are assigned to monitor different areas such as garage traffic, track entry and exit, and giving the cars a quick safety check before they go on the track.
3:30 Pre-Qualifying Tech
Cars are once again checked with the templates, gauges, and scales before being impounded for qualifying.
5:30 Qualifying
Cars make single-car, two-lap runs and are captured as soon as they exit the track. Teams get one final chance to make adjustments before the cars are once again impounded for the race.
6:30 Autograph Session and Local Racing
After the autograph session, the host track will usually run two to three of its races. This is the last bit of downtime officials get, so we usually use this time to eat dinner. We have a group of ladies who are excellent cooks and do a great job stocking the hauler with plenty of food throughout the day and making sure we never go hungry.
8:30 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Race
After the last local race, teams begin moving the cars into position for diver introductions, and officials will begin heading to our positions as well. At around 8:15, Race Control does a final radio check with all officials. During the race, I'm assigned to the spotters' stand, so I help relay information from race control to the spotters and vice versa.
10:30 - Midnight Post-race Inspection
The top five cars head to tech for a final inspection. I once again check the undercar, and then random parts such as gears, shocks, and springs are removed and inspected as well.
Midnight - 1:00 AM Load Hauler
After post-race inspection is complete, we then pack up the hauler. Our series director will also hold a final meeting with us to discuss the day and the race. Since we are always celebrating someone's birthday, we finish the night up with a slice of birthday cake before heading back to the hotel to rest up for our travels home.