Okay, so you wanna be a NASCAR official? I tried that, and let me tell you, it’s a whole process. I started with nothing, just a love for racing, and figured I’d give it a shot.
Getting Started
First thing I did was go look around on the internet. Seriously, just started typing stuff into the search bar. I found some forums, some old articles, it was a mess. But I dug through it all.
Then, I tried to find some local races. Smaller tracks, you know? Figured I’d start small. I found a couple of dirt tracks not too far from me and started just…showing up.
Making Connections (or Trying To)
I’d walk around, try to talk to people. Mostly got ignored, to be honest. Lots of folks already knew each other, and I was the new guy. But I kept at it. I’d ask about volunteering, helping out, anything. Finally, I got to watch and listen to some guys running things and learned a bit about it.
Getting my hands dirty
- Showed up early, stayed late.
- Helped setting up some stuff.
- Asked a million questions(maybe a few too many).
- Always asking about how to learn more about the job.
Actually Officiating
So I get some real training and am assigned to a team. They are teaching me all about the rules, flags, and all the other stuff. Finally I got to join them on the track. Now every weekend I am there, learning more and more, and growing to love this job!
Look, it wasn’t easy. And I’m still learning. But if you’re really serious about it, just keep showing up, keep learning, and keep pushing. You’ll get there. Maybe. It’s a tough gig, but it’s rewarding if you love racing as much as I do.
