Track Medic Sees the Inside of NASCAR
July 29--The director of Davidson County Emergency Services continues to volunteer as a track medic at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the Sprint Cup races and other NASCAR series that runs at the speedway each May and October. Over the years, he's transported popular drivers, including the late Dale Earnhardt Sr., Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle and most recently, Jeff Gordon.
"You get to see a side of things that a fan watching on TV is not aware of," James said. "... If I am watching the race from Talladega ... I know what (track medics) are looking for. I recognize by the movement of the safety crew what they see that an average person is not picking up."
James' efforts of volunteering at CMS results in a donation being made to the Gumtree Volunteer Fire Department, where he has been a volunteer firefighter for 32 years. Other Davidson County agencies, such as the Davidson County Rescue Squad and A-RC-H Volunteer Fire Department, also assist with medical cover during the race weekends at the track, the emergency services director said.
"It's used as a fundraiser," James said.
James' race weekend typically begins when he arrives on the day in which the racers are practicing. He said track medics have to be there early in the morning when the garage opens. James is on stand-by for possibly 10 to 12 hours on the practice and qualifying days.
When it comes to race day, James again arrives at the track early in the morning to get any updates on drivers who are having any medical-related issues. The track medics have safety meetings every day to make sure everyone one is on the same page.
James recalls in May 2000 a pedestrian bridge collapsed after a race and injured more than 100 people. He was on one of the first trucks to the bridge.
"I have never seen anything like that," he said. "We got up to the bridge and I gave a report to the radio room in the infield-care center of what I saw. ... There were people piled on top of people waist deep."
James said over the years, he's transported lots of top-named drivers.
"Some of them cut up," he said.
Arguments, he said, between drivers often become interesting as they are being transported after accidents.
"Back in the 90s, Ricky Rudd and Jeff Gordon had some words, so much we put one up front (of the ambulance) and put one in the back," James recalled.
James said whenever he's on the track he always pays attention because there are cars on the track who are still going fast and trying to catch up to the pack under the yellow flag. As he says, he has to keep his "head on a swivel."
"The drivers are much more, well protected than they were in the 90s," he said, referring to the changes in NASCAR over the years.
Racing is in James' blood.
James father, Grady James, owned a modified for a several years that raced at Bowman Gray Speedway. Junior Miller, a former Whelen Southern Modified Tour champion, drove one of his father's modified cars.
"Going to races every weekend is the way I grew up," he said. "... Obviously, also in the emergency services field, as I got older, this (being a track medic) was a way I could do both at one time."
The emergency services director raced go-karts and ran one race at Bowman Gray.
"I drove a car for a guy, and I had a guy run into me right at the start/finish line and take me out of the race before I even got to the first turn," he said. "I have raced go-karts and got a concussion racing."
James' 17-year-old son, Derek, races senior champ karts and Woodleaf Speedway near Cooleemee. He also has three nephews, Luke James, Adam James, Jonathan James, Zach James and Scott Routh, all of whom race with Derek.
"It's competitive," Larry James said. "We share information, but you don't always share everything. You've got to keep a little bit for yourself."
Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com.
Copyright 2013 - The Dispatch, Lexington, N.C.
