Carl “Bubba” Russell is ready for action at Talladega Superspeedway.
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Many fans of NASCAR can all agree on one thing, the most exciting part of the race is when someone crashes.
But who is going to be there to help the show go on? That is where Murfreesboro’s Scott Pack and Carl “Bubba” Russell come to save the day with their wrecking service.
Pack and Russell both got involved with “wrecking” for NASCAR through Miller Industries, a Chattanooga-based company that manufactures wrecking equipment.
“I bought a truck from Miller and they informed me about the NASCAR program they offer,” said Scott Pack, owner of Pack’s Towing on Hamilton Drive.
Pack has been involved with the program for 11 years now and works tracks like Daytona, Homestead, Fla. and Talladega, Ala., twice a year.
Although Pack enjoys working all the tracks, one in particular is his favorite.
“Talladega is an awesome track to work, it is definitely the party track,” Pack said.
There are perks to working the NASCAR circuit, like getting to meet drivers such as Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Daryl Waltrip but certain risks come with the job as well.
When trying to recover disabled vehicles from the track, cars still in the race have come very close to hitting him, said Pack.
Russell, owner of Russell Auto Care on New Salem Highway, has been working NASCAR races for 22 years now. Russell also got involved in the program through Miller Industries, and after working there for six or seven years was promoted to crew chief driver.
“It’s great for me to be associated with these guys, and the program has come such a long way in 22 years,” said Russell.
The thrill of working that close to the action should be payment enough for these two men, but the real kicker is that all of their work is done voluntarily.
“It is kind of hard to take money from this, from doing something that you enjoy so much,” said Russell. “I am happy to be part of the organization.”
Russell, too, has great memories like getting to drive his wrecker on the pace lap at Talladega, but the threat of danger is still present on the track.
“I remember one time at Daytona we got the call to go out and get a car off the track, while I getting off the track a car spun out right after I was just there,” Russell said.
Despite the dangers of the job, both men enjoy what they do and hope to continue working with NASCAR for years to come.
Post intern Tim Hodge may be reached at 869-0813. |
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