Safety crews at Dover 'second-to-none.'

When you run a safety program that is considered second-to-none in the world of car racing, you have a right to feel proud. But feeling proud doesn't last long when you talk with Ed Klima, Emergency Services Coordinator for Dover Motorsports, Inc.

After all, there is always another event at another track with personnel who need to know how to react to any and all situations. And when you have to organize between 150-200 people for a race weekend like the one currently underway at the Dover International Speedway, you need to be on top of your game.

Klima is not only on top of his game, but his safety program for Dover Motorsports, Inc. is now the model for other race organizations around the country. NASCAR is taking a hard look at instituting essentially the exact program Klima uses at Dover.

The reason is simple -- it is comprehensive and it works.

"We've established a baseline program unlike any other major promoter in America," said Klima. "We've developed standardized emergency procedures that apply to all our other tracks and are based on very thorough training efforts and a complete knowledge of how to react to any kind of situation. It's a program all the other tracks are looking at."

When Klima has to prepare for races at Dover, Nashville, Memphis, St. Louis, St. Petersburg, Denver and Long Beach, he has to first organize EMS workers and fire fighters and train them. He offers two eight-hour courses. All safety personnel must take the basic eight-hour course, with everyone who works on the track taking another eight-hour advanced course.

At Dover for its NASCAR tripleheader weekend, there are 120-130 safety personnel inside the track and another 40-50 outside the track. The crews will typically put in 12-14-hour days that begin with equipment checks and a daily safety meeting. Klima says that racers are acutely aware of which tracks have top-notch safety procedures.

"The drivers definitely know which tracks have their safety elements together," Klima concludes. "We've received many compliments about the job our safety crews do."