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Racing\u2019s Unsung Heroes According to Fritz, the track rescue team is the group that keeps everyone safe during races. They\u2019re trained firefighters, medics, and safety specialists who stand ready around the track. If there\u2019s a crash, fire, or any kind of problem, they\u2019re the first ones out there. They help drivers get out of the car, put out fires, clean up debris, and make sure the track is safe so racing can continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This group also responds in seconds, helping drivers who are hurt or stuck. They put out fires, handle fuel spills, and clear debris so the race can safely restart. And they train constantly, year after year, to stay sharp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor example, if there happens to be a fire while they\u2019re fueling, then we are there to protect the driver and the crew members. We make sure that it\u2019s contained and under control in a timely manner,\u201d explained Fritz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Fritz and his crew, it\u2019s a job where seconds matter, and hesitation can cost lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An Unexpected Path \u201cI had my own fabrication business,\u201d he said. \u201cI got a call one day to go down and bid on some metalworking projects. That call came from Rick, the track director of operations at the time. One project led to another, and soon I was helping install safer barrier walls.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Becoming the go\u2011to welder for repairs when cars hit the wall, he was on-site during events, just in case. Five years later, Fritz was among a group that was asked if anyone was interested in working in Indianapolis and the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He took the chance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI guess I did good enough, and they invited me to come back. And then that very next year, I started working at Indianapolis Motor Speedway,\u201d said Fritz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, he\u2019s logged 17 years at Indianapolis and 22 years with Nashville Superspeedway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dangerous Job \u2014 and Worth It But he also understands that it\u2019s a part of the job. He added that his crew is who he counts on to get through the day\u2019s race safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve never gotten scared,\u201d said Fritz. \u201cI think if I get scared, then I won\u2019t want to do it anymore. I mean, there\u2019s a few times when I\u2019ve been a little nervous, but I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever been afraid or scared. What keeps me doing it is the people. It comes down to the training and the people and the level of trust for them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n After 20 years, Fritz said retirement isn\u2019t on his mind \u2014 not yet. Right now, he\u2019s content with the rhythm of the season, the camaraderie of the team, and the excitement that the racing season brings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI just enjoy the sights and the sounds,\u201d he said. GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" LONG BEFORE engines roar to life, Perry Fritz \u2014 known to nearly everyone simply as \u201cP. Fritz\u201d \u2014 is already walking the infield at the Nashville Superspeedway. He is preparing for the day\u2019s upcoming race by checking and inspecting gear and equipment that are lifesaving on the track, not only for the driver, but for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":23708,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23703","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lebanon","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n
<\/strong>Whether he\u2019s at the Nashville Superspeedway or the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway, P. Fritz works on what\u2019s known as the track rescue or track safety team. The title shifts depending on the track, but the mission never does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/lebanon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/06\/1-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/strong>Fritz\u2019s path to this particular position is unique, as he wasn\u2019t looking for a job and certainly not one in this line of work. However, being at the right place at the right time introduced him to a line of work that has kept coming back each race season for over 20 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/lebanon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/06\/2-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/strong>Fritz said while he enjoys his time on the track, he knows the dangers it carries. \u201cIt\u2019s extremely dangerous,\u201d he added. \u201cYou never know when somebody\u2019s going to get hurt. You never know when a car\u2019s going to come flying or if a piece comes flying off the car and you\u2019re not looking, if it could hit you. They tell us to keep our heads on a swivel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n