Veterans Day is a time to thank those who have served our country. We’re thankful to have hard-working U.S. military veterans here at RLL. We sat down with a couple of them to get their insights on how their time in the service helped them work on our INDYCAR program. Ben Christian, inside rear tire changer and transport driver for the No. 30 program, served in the Marine Corps, and Jason Wurtzel, tire specialist and transport driver for the No. 45 program, served in the Navy.
Q. What are some of the skills that you used in the military that transferred over here in motorsports?
BC: The military itself has a model and basis for teamwork. A lot of training goes into that, no matter your job, that can be directly applied to racing.
JW: The chain of command is very prevalent in both the military and motorsports. Accountability and attention to detail are also taught in the military that is used over here.
Q. Why is accountability and attention to detail so important in motorsports?
JW: If we don’t do our job right, it becomes a matter of life and death. If someone doesn’t do their job from our position, all of the way up to the mechanics, then a part could fall off the car, go through another car, and injure another driver. Or, that car could wreck. If we aren’t careful as to how we load these trailers, hook them up, and check the brakes, tires and everything on the truck, you can go off the road. Accountability is probably number one on our list.
Q. By starting your career in the military, did it create a solid foundation for you to work with a race team?
JW: 100%. Individuals who transfer from the military to what we do – thrive. The team aspect, accountability, and veterans are used to working very odd schedules—moments of high adrenaline to naptime in a second. We learn how to rest our bodies in an instant.
BC: One of the things that make military guys unique is that we have a modified scope of what stress is to us versus other people. We’ve spent so much time operating in a higher-stress environment in many instances that the little bit we get of it in this industry doesn’t impact us as much as it will other people.
Q. Where have you seen those high-adrenaline/high-stress scenarios in racing?
Both: Pit stops.
JW: Every pit stop. It’s the attention to detail on that pit stop. It’s doing your job exactly how you’re supposed to do it and being ready for something unexpected.
BC: Reacting correctly without having to think about it is crucial. The military taught us that. The pit stop would be the closest to how I reacted to fire fights. I am not saying that they are the same, but I’ve got to take the wheel off, put the wheel on, and get it tight. If it’s wrong, I’ve got to say it’s wrong before it leaves. I’ve got eight seconds for that.