Hundreds of Volunteers Join State Agencies to Assist With NASCAR at Lime Rock

LAKEVILLE, CT -- Thousands of NASCAR fans will head to Lime Rock Park later this week, as state agencies and race organizers plan for one of the largest motorsports events the state has seen.

DESPP’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS), along with Lime Rock Park, local municipal leaders and first responders, various state agencies, have been working for the last six months to prepare for the nationally televised NASCAR races on Friday and Saturday.

"Lime Rock is an extraordinary place and one of Connecticut's treasured resources. I am pleased to see state agencies, local municipalities, first responders, and Lime Rock coming together to make this event a success', said Governor Ned Lamont. "From Paul Newman to a roster of race car royalty, Lime Rock has a rich history that has justifiably placed it on the National Register of Historic Places."

"This event showcases the extensive behind-the-scenes preparation we undertake to ensure a safe environment for all. Our state agency, which includes the Connecticut State Police, the Division of Statewide Emergency Telecommunications, the Commission on Fire Prevention and Control, and the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS), is collaborating with local municipalities, first responders, and Lime Rock to make this event successful," said DESPP Commissioner Ronnell A. Higgins."

Organizers are preparing for all scenarios, from extreme heat to back-up radio and cellular communications to crowded local roads. EMS and fire resources from the state and surrounding communities will all be on duty throughout the event, which begins Thursday afternoon with a parade in Lakeville, a village in Salisbury in Connecticut's far northwest corner.

"For the first time in its 68-year history, Lime Rock Park will stage a NASCAR national touring series event," said Jamie Kistner, Chief Marketing Officer for the racetrack. "This event marks a turning point not only for Lime Rock Park but also for the State of Connecticut. More than 20,000 fans are expected to attend over the two days, representing what will be the largest crowd at the track in recent history.

In addition to DESPP and Lime Rock staff, the event brings together the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, physicians from UConn Health, who will be on site, as well as specialized resources such as DEMHS's Joint Hazard Assessment Team, the drone detection unit from the Connecticut State Police, and volunteer first responders from surrounding communities, including Sharon, Falls Village, Cornwall, Salisbury, Kent, and North Canaan.

As many as 150 emergency responders from the area will be assisting the event, said Tom Burke, Lime Rock Park's Director of Track Operations.

"It's really going to be all hands on deck that weekend. Most of the agencies there are volunteers," said Nicole Velardi, a DEMHS Emergency Management Area Coordinator. "The safety of the people on the campus and in the surrounding area is the utmost concern."