Teams Of Professionals Keep City Of 200,000 Around BMS Safe On Race Days

BRISTOL, Tenn. – During race week the area surrounding Bristol Motor Speedway becomes a city for about 200,000 residents – a population five times larger than both Bristols.

Keeping the short-term city safe is a job handled by more than 100 law enforcement officers from 15 different agencies and a local health-care system operating six clinics with about 100 doctors and paramedics, and 25 to 30 ambulances; in addition to six fire trucks and two helicopters.

"We’re prepared and ready for any major disaster that happens," said Sullivan County Sheriff’s Lt. Joe Miller, who has supervised security operations inside the speedway complex for the past 14 years.

Miller said 13 law enforcement agencies – including the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, bomb squads, mounted patrols, and K-9 units – work together to provide a 24-7 security presence at the speedway.

Without going into much detail, he said the officers are stationed at every gate leading into and out of the speedway. They patrol the suites, the parking lots, the drivers’ RV parking lot and the speedway’s two helicopter landing areas.

"The biggest thing you’re going to deal with here is alcohol," Miller said. "We let the fans enjoy the race as long as they can act like adults."

Fights have broken out – though they are more prevalent at the fall races than the spring races – and officers have had to deal with a few domestic violence situations while working the speedway security shift in past years.

Security outside the track is handled by a squad of six to 10 Bristol Tennessee police officers who patrol the campgrounds via SUVs and ATVs.

"We have all types of calls," Bristol Police Lt. Terry Johnson said, adding his officers deal with about the same situations that happen inside the BMS property. "It’s just one big city down here."

They also have to be alert for potential vehicle thefts, something Johnson said hasn’t been too much of a problem recently.

"Most of the race fans are pretty well behaved," Johnson said Saturday, adding the campgrounds have been quiet this year. "They really believe in security down here."

The law enforcement agencies’ commitment to security was recognized in January when BMS was listed among NASCAR’s 10 safest tracks.

Miller beams with pride when asked about the honor, but said not every problem can be handled or prevented by a strong law enforcement presence.

"People die of heart attacks while at the race," he said, referring to an incident a few years ago.

Heart attacks and other medical emergencies fall under the jurisdiction of Wellmont Health System and its team of about 100 health-care practitioners.

Wellmont dispenses medical care through a system of six Fan Care Centers at the speedway, each staffed with a team of four to six doctors and nurses.

Also, about 80 EMTs and paramedics are at the speedway to handle medical emergencies and to transport the people who have difficulty walking, using stair chairs and small utility vehicles.

"We have a very good success rate in getting people to definitive care," said Kevin Colson, who works with Wellmont’s speedway medical services.

Colson said the on-site paramedics determine whether a patient can be treated at a fan care center or needs to be transported for further medical treatment.

Wellmont’s medical crew has access to a fleet of ambulances for such transports and two helicopters for use in serious cases or when traffic is backed up.

"It could take an hour to get to the hospital in high-traffic times," Colson said.

And where there are ambulances, there are also fire trucks.

Bristol Tennessee Fire Department Assistant Chief Mike Carrier said he stations nine pieces of fire-fighting equipment – including four engines and three all-terrain vehicles – near the speedway at all times during race week.

"The more people you have, the more of a potential you have for fires as well," he said, adding the department responds to any fires inside or outside the track.

Carrier said so far this year, there hasn’t been a problem with fires at the track or any of the campgrounds, though one camper did catch fire at the end of last year’s spring race.

Bristol’s firefighters watch the campgrounds for possible carbon monoxide poisoning given the number of vehicles and gas grills set up around the campers. They also answer any medical calls in the areas as well.

"When you look at the number of campers that we’ve got, " Carrier said. "Anything can happen."

gmclean@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2518