I had the special opportunity to work as the trackside public address announcer at Daytona International Speedway for Speedweeks in February, and again for the 4th of July NASCAR weekends.

   A story I’d like to share is when I was scheduled to be on pit road to introduce the current U.S. President, George W. Busch (43rd) to give the command to start engines for the Daytona 500.

   As you can imagine, with 200,000 spectators and a huge facility like Daytona, the post-9/11 security detail was on high alert.  Blacked-out Chevy Suburbans and dozens of men wearing earpieces and sunglasses were everywhere that morning.

   For pre-race festivities, Daytona speedway staff had arranged for a jet-pack pilot to fly from the top of the Winston Tower high above the track, down to the grass field between the race track and pit road.  Much to their surprise, the Secret Service did not squash this activity once the President was confirmed to participate.

   As time drew nearer, I couldn’t help but notice the trained snipers lining the roof of the infield building behind pit road, and above the Winston Tower, in place to protect the President.

   In a pre-event planning meeting with Secret Service, the jet-pack pilot was asked “How long will it take you to get from roof to grass?”

   He replied, “Thirteen seconds.”

   I’m told the next thing said in the meeting was a matter-of-fact instruction to the jet-pack pilot by security detail.  “If you were to veer off course in any way and start flying in the direction of the President, you WILL be down in LESS than 13 seconds.”

   It was now time for the jet-pack flight.  As I was on the ground within feet of the President’s detail, I was instructed to not make any sudden moves, to do my job.  I stood facing pit road and craned my neck toward the roof.

   The jet-pack descent went off as planned, as the pilot landed safely down the track from the President as planned.

   What sticks with me to this day was what I learned after the race started.  There were actually dozens of sniper rifles pointed at the chest of the pilot as he descended, with his vest flush with red dots from the rifle scopes!  One wrong move and he’d be down…. Wow.

   It continues to be a real pleasure for me to play a small role at the track with NASCAR’s inclusion and recognition of our U.S. Military before every race, including the performance of the national anthem and the participation of high-ranking U.S. officials.

   That was a morning to remember, for sure.