Faces Behind the Stands are the Engine for Car Races

The acclaimed Chicagoland Speedway on Illinois Route 52 in nearby Joliet is expected to drawn an estimated 20,000 people this weekend.  Three races are scheduled.  The ARCA Race and truck series are set for Saturday, and the Nationwide is slated for Sunday. The major Nascar race is scheduled for Sept. 15-16.

Behind the hype, the checkered flags and the roar of revving engines are the volunteers that arrive on site as early as 6 a.m. to man the booths, food stands, beer carts, guest services desk and more. Since the track opened in 2001 it has provided fundraising opportunities for non-profit organizations to work the booths or take on the role of food and beverage servers for elite suite-seated attendees.

Nancy Lindmar is the guest service coordinator for Chicagoland Speedway, a nationally recognized Nascar track, and the nearby Route 66 Raceway, which features drag races. She said the racing organization depends on the volunteers.

Reflecting on the people she encounters for temporary help, she said, “they’re fun people. You have to come in with the right attitude to spend a day or weekend at the track.”

There is no room for prima donnas in an environment that’s at best hot and humid. The crowds get thick and the noise levels can compare to communities that live relatively in the backyard of a major airport.

This weekend 22 different non-profit groups, at least six are New Lenox-based, are scheduled to work under Lindmark and a lot more will work the food booths, the lemonade stands or beer booths under the stands. The food booths are organized by Levy Restaurants.

The volunteers represent churches, Red Hat Ladies, cheerleading organizations, athletic boosters, college groups, gymnastics and more.  For the benefit of the non-profit group, each volunteer earns $100 a day. If they have 15 or 20 volunteers, then they’ve made $1,500 or $2,000, she said.

 The food booths are set up a bit differently. They get a small percentage of total sales, which adds up fast as the crowds seek some shade and refreshment during lulls in the action.

For about the past 10 years, representatives from the music boosters out of Lincoln-Way High School District 210 have been onboard. Speaking on behalf of LWCHS, Simon Harris, chairperson for the second year and veteran of the “Nascar Fundraiser” for four years, said he has arranged for 10 boosters to work the two races on Saturday and 15 on Sunday.

It takes a commitment of time and energy to work the races, Harris said. "The alcohol serving classes are in January, and there's meeting at the track." As chairperson, it's his job to start recruiting seriously in May for the end-of-June race.    

This Sunday, he said, is expected to be a bigger race. “I’m looking forward to ARCA. I don’t follow (Nascar) as much as I used to, but I’m excited about being able to see the action.”

Generally, each group schedules their own breaks so individuals can catch a glimpse of the race. “We’ll be working the suites, serving drinks and food. We’ll clear away the (leftover mess and trash,)” he said.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the people at the race.” Last year he got his picture taken with some of the drivers.

While the organization cleared about $3,800 working two races, Harris is hoping to up the ante this year. “We’ve got three races. We worked the drag strip (Route 66 Raceway) at the end of June.”

Harris, whose son Christopher is a senior and section leader of the trumpet players for the LWCHS Marching Knights, is hoping to earn enough money to off-set the $1,500 per person cost of participating in the Holiday Bowl parade in San Diego in December.

Because the music boosters supports each of the variety of music-related activities at the high school, including Madrigals, jazz band, choir and more, the money gets spread a bit thin, said Harris. That’s why the group needs so many fundraisers.

Lindmark said volunteering means showing up to that wide, empty expanse about 6 or 7 a.m. and working as last as 9 p.m. Then, depending on the race, it could take as much as two hours to get out of the parking area.

Harris said he usually offers newcomers, the parents of incoming freshmen, a few tips before the day of the race. “Wear good shoes,” that’s the key to success. "And bring water."