Okay, so I’ve always been a HUGE NASCAR fan. The speed, the strategy, the roar of the engines… it’s just awesome. And I’ve always wondered, “How do those officials get to be right there in the middle of all that action?” So, I decided to dig in and figure out how to become a NASCAR official. Here’s what I did, step by step:
Started Local
First, I looked around my area for local short tracks. Turns out, there were a few within driving distance! I figured this was the best place to start – you gotta crawl before you can walk, right? I showed up, week after week.
Got My Hands Dirty
I didn’t just watch, I volunteered. I helped out wherever I could – taking tickets, cleaning up, whatever. Basically, I made myself useful. This let me get to know the track officials and see what they actually did.
- Learned the Rules: Seriously, you gotta know the rulebook inside and out. I spent hours reading and re-reading it. Every track has slightly different local rules too, so I made sure to learn those as well.
- Watched and Asked Questions: I paid close attention to how the experienced officials handled things, and I wasn’t afraid to ask questions. Most of them were happy to share their knowledge.
Made Connections
This was key. I talked to everyone – other volunteers, track owners, and of course, the officials. I let them know I was serious about learning and becoming an official myself. Networking, baby!
Took Some Classes
Many short tracks and racing organizations offer training classes for officials. I signed up for a few of these. They covered everything from scoring and flagging to track safety and dealing with drivers (that’s gotta be a tough one!).
Started Small
My first official gig was as a corner worker. My job was to watch for wrecks and debris, and communicate with race control. It was a rush! Then I worked my way up, trying different roles – scoring, pit road, even a little bit of tech inspection.
Kept Learning and Improving
Even after I started officiating, I kept learning. I attended more advanced training sessions, studied the rules, and sought feedback from experienced officials. I also worked as many races as I could, at different tracks, to get a wider range of experience.
I stayed persistent, showed my passion.
The NASCAR Dream (Still Working On It!)
So, am I a NASCAR official yet? Nope. But I’m definitely on the path! I’ve gained a ton of experience at the local level, made some great connections, and learned a whole lot. The next step is to start attending NASCAR-sanctioned events and look for opportunities there. It’s a long road, but I’m determined to get there. It is all about passion.
