DuQuoin Fairgrounds Racetrack...30 years later

I had the opportunity to work the ARCA Lincoln Welder Truck Series (ALWTS) race on August 24, 2008 at the DuQuoin Fairgrounds Racetrack...a 1 mile dirt track...smooth as glass...nice and wide. It is also the scene of a defining moment in my racing safety career 30 years before.

The ALWTS race was uneventful...one caution for a spin with minor wall contact...good racing!...Norm Weaver and Paul Hahn put on a great example of close and clean racing! This event is not the point of this entry...more, what happened there 30 years ago.



Early in my racing safety career, I was blessed to work with Professional Track Services (PTS), a Fort Wayne-based track safety company. On Saturday, August 26, 1978, we were providing coverage for a USAC Stock Car Division event (yes, that long ago)...a vicious crash occurred on the front stretch involving a chain link fence. The driver was critically injured and, as I understand it, ultimately recovered from his injuries. The PTS crews there that weekend (we also had a USAC Dirt Champ race on Sunday) played key roles in the medical care and extrication of this driver. How ironic is it that I would be at the same track 30 years later, almost to the day. It is interesting how much has changed and how much as stayed the same in those 30 years.

As I performed the safety inspections for the ALTWS show, I was struck by the irony of being back at DuQuoin after so many years. Having someone from a sanctioning body assigned to on-and off-track safety duties is still not that common...seeing the improved seats is very encouraging...seeing head and neck restraints being used is huge...and what is also encouraging is seeing the increased level of focus and training of safety teams. The concrete wall around tracks, versus the old guardrail retaining wall, has been a big improvement at many tracks.

What was also interesting to me is how far ahead of the curve the folks from PTS were...they were literally decades ahead of their time! We all need to strive for excellence the way the leaders in our business have done...and we cannot get complacent with our progress...we must keep our eyes open, our heads up, and continue to be aware of opportunities for improvement.

Remember...at the end of the day, everyone goes home standing up!