Support Teams

Many a time at a race, we tend to forget all of the support teams that are there, from crew members to friends and family.  Without them, many of us would not even be there or we might have to leave early.  

One of these that I have come to know over the years is the safety crew that sits at the end of the track for the entire race. Often, the only break they get is to use the bathroom.  Some don’t even get a chance to go eat; they have someone else bring them food.  Frequently, I will hear some drivers complain on how hot it is in the cars with all of the safety gear on, especially those that are suited up in funny cars.  Yet the safety crew is suited up the entire time that the funny car class runs, not just for one run.

Makes you wonder why people would even want to be part of this group.  It’s not for the fame and fortune, that’s for certain!  Sometimes drivers will vent all of their anger on the safety crew if something is not to their liking.  They seldom get the respect they deserve.  I believe that it’s their love for the sport, as well as for the safety of those who take part in it, that keeps them returning race after race.

And let’s not forget the tech teams, who also get yelled at for trying to keep people safe…often checking items that are really the driver’s responsibility.  Yet these same people would be the first to want to sue when something goes wrong and they are injured.  Once again, the only reason I can think of someone doing this week after week is they love this sport, those who participate in it, and are concerned for their safety.

The reality is that we may never get to know all of these people on a first name basis.  And yet their jobs are very important to them and us as well.  I was reminded of this when I recently was skimming over some names in the Bible passage I was reading.  I thought. “Why are the names there in the first place?”  We all need to realize how important things we do are, even if we don’t get recognition for them all the time.  That is especially true when we do them for God.  Just look at the book of Acts in the Bible to discover this. We would not have the rest of the Bible if it were not for these names that most of us can’t even pronounce; but these people were faithful…even unto death.

Look for those that hopefully you will never need to use, such as the safety people at the end of the track, and thank them for being there. See if there is any way that you might be able to help others in what you do or where you go in life.  Make a difference!

Dan Laterza