The View from the Stand: Interview with a Flagman
Photo Courtesy of: WingNut Productions
February 13th, 2024
Introduction
In the world of auto racing, every role is crucial, but one that is pivotal, and perhaps overlooked at times, is that of the flagman. Standing above the fray, the flagman is both an overseer and a guardian, communicating vital information to drivers at breakneck speeds, while scanning the entire track surface. Today, we're shining the spotlight on Flagman Steven Austin. With a decade of experience under his belt, including a stint with the East Coast Mini Stock Tour and his recent role in the Pro Stock Tour, Steven brings a unique perspective/set of experiences to the table.
How did you end up becoming involved as a flag man?
My story is probably not far from the story of other Flagmen. While watching racing I would watch and pay attention to the Flagman, Race Officials, and Track Workers just as much as the racing. My journey as a flagman started when Tim Wile of the Centre for Speed (CFS) gave me a chance in 2014, and I continue to owe him my gratitude for giving me that chance. My schedule at Centre for Speed consisted of mostly fall races, and the Atlantic Championships (biggest annual race event at CFS). Rob Bowness: the Flagman at Scotia Speedworld, would come to CFS and be my Race Director. Rob became a great friend and mentor to me.
You noted that you have been a flagman since 2014, and that you were with the East Coast Mini Stock Tour from 2018 to 2022, with 2023 being your first year with the Pro Stock Tour.
In the Fall of 2017 while Flagging at CFS, I was able to Flag the ECMST (East Coast Mini Stock Tour) season finally, and I had so much fun and they are/were a great group of Racers. I reached out to the ECMST in 2018 to see if I could join them and flag their races. I am again grateful, this time to Mark Williams and Drew MacEachern for taking a chance on me in 2018 for the ECMST. That summer we did races at Scotia, LDMS (Lake Doucette Motor Speedway), Riverside, Petty, and 660. That summer hooked me on Mini Stock Racing and Tour Racing.
The following year (2019), I continued with the Mini Stock Tour and we visited Petty, Scotia, Sydney (Bud’s Speedway), LDMS, Riverside & 660. That same year I returned for the Atlantic Championships at CFS, got the nod to Flag full events at Sydney Speedway (Bud’s), and a Sportsman 100 Race at LDMS along with TCM (Tim’s Corner Motorsports) Bandolero Blast, and the Maritime League of Legends (MLOL) at Speedweekend, and at Speedway 660. If 2019 was my last year of Flagging ever, I was going out on a high note.
Of course 2020 put a wrench in everyone’s plans - I was able to keep the flag stand warm for Craig Weagle at Petty for an event until Borders re-opened. That year the ECMST did not run events, and that summer I had the opportunity to try Flagging CKRA (Championship Kart Racing Association) Karting Races at ECK (East Coast Karting), and of course the Atlantic Championships rolled around again in the Fall.
2021 began similarly to 2020, and I again flagged a few races at Petty until the ECMST began again. The Tour travelled to Petty, LDMS, OBS (Oyster Bed Speedway), 660 & Scotia Speedworld. I was again able to work with the TCM Bandolero Blast and the Maritime League of Legends at Speed Weekend at Speedway 660 (the annual event that features the New Brunswick 250 Pro Stock race).
The ECMST 2022 Season visited Scotia, Riverside, OBS, and 660. I also Flagged a MLOL Race at Petty. This was the final year of the ECMST, and I was not ready to “Retire” from Flagging Races but if it was so, I had a pretty good time. Winter of 2023, I had started to reach out to other group when the Pro Stock Tour had a shuffle in Officials, and I received a call from Mike Ledwidge for a chance at the Pro Stock Tour; This was a goal of mine. I also reached another goal in 2023 with Flagging an AMT (Atlantic Modified Tour) Race at Speedway Miramichi. This opportunity gave me the last active paved oval needed in order to say I have Flagged a Race at all Active Paved Ovals in the Maritimes. Plus, I returned to CFS for the Atlantic Nationals.
Were you involved in racing in another capacity, prior to that?
Just a fan, I enjoyed going to Pro Stock Tour Races and taking pictures and videos as a hobby; Nothing more.
I'm curious about your role during an actual race. Could you walk us through a hypothetical scenario? Let's say it's a 250-lap race with a half-way break, and at some point, you need to black flag a driver. What are your key responsibilities throughout such a race?
Most Race Days begin the same. We’re able to access the Track 1 Hour before the pit gate opens. I have a few duties to perform once at the track, but my “Work” day begins with Practice. Once Practice is over, I attend the Drivers Meeting. Once that is over, I make my way to the Grandstand side and wait my turn for the Heat Races (We normally have a support class on Race Day). Once the Heats are over, I again wait my turn for Features. Once the support features are over, I have On-Track duties for the Opening Ceremony/Driver Introductions (Parking the Race cars & Waving Checkered flag during Introductions).
Then Business picks up once I climb in the flag stand for the Feature. We have a fairly similar routine each race (Some Races I have an Honorary Starter which changes things a bit). Pace Laps/Cross the Field (signal for cars to align in their 2 by 2 positions)/Rolled Green (slowly pick up speed for the green)/Green ……... off we go. In a 150, 200 or 250 everything flows fairly similar. A halfway break is called just after halfway, and that is all orchestrated from the RD (race Director) & Scorer (track official who tracks car positions, laps, and timekeeping).
I don’t know how to explain being on the Flag stand during a race. For me it is the best place to watch a race. It is fast paced, you can feel the wind, you can see so many details. Each flagstand and track have different details. Petty and Scotia: you are out over the Track and the Cars race under you. Riverside: they are next to you, but the wind off the cars is tremendous.
I fall into a rhythm with the Race, I count laps, follow the leader, scan the field and listen for my Race Director.
I am fairly quiet on the Radio, I figure with so much going on, I don’t need to add to the chatter. Once the leader approaches the back of the field (to begin lapping cars), I begin the Blue/Yellow Flag, or at the end of a race with 10 or 5 laps to go.
Many of the big calls come down from the Tower: Race Director for the Yellows, Black Flags/Meatballs (A black flag with a solid orange circle, used to summon a damaged car to the pits for repairs), and competition Cautions. The Scorer will give us lap updates for the Halfway mark & 2 laps to go. The Flagman does relay lots of information to the Drivers and Fans, but most divisions have Radio and Scanners which helps to get information to Drivers, Teams and Spotters, also (Depending on the Series).
And how often do you communicate with the race director/what kind of information do you typically exchange?
I have worked with a few different Race Directors over the years and most have a similar style of running a Race, though some say more than others. Some ask for input from other officials more than others. It depends on the individual, level of Racing, and Track, as to how much exchange there is between the RD.
Are there any specific challenges or crucial moments you have to be particularly prepared for?
I always try to be prepared for a Yellow. At the Maritime Tracks, all Caution lights are controlled from the Flag Stand. I try to get the lights on seconds before I wave the Yellow for the reason of: if the Cars are on the backstretch, they will hopefully see the lights long before they come around to see a flag on the frontstretch.
Overtime, you can see the mood of a race. I normally hold the yellow, but once that mood softens, you can sometimes tell that this is going to stay green for a bit, although I have been caught off guard.
IWK 250, 2023: Last laps: The White was out. Yellow was in the holder. I was trying to get the double Checkers ready “YELLOW, Yellow, Yellow” over the radio. Lots of flags in my hands, trying to flick the light switch, and grab the Yellow; Momentary Chaos. But it all works out.
Do you have an interest in a different role in the future, or would you like to remain in your current position indefinitely?
I love the Role as a Flagman. I have been in a few other positions and stood with a RD. Those roles are not for me. Currently, flagman is the spot I would like to stay in for the Future. I still have a few goals that I would like to accomplish in this position, and I enjoy it enormously.
How do you approach waving yellows? What are some things that factor into your decision, regarding how long to wait? And is it left up to your discretion, or are you provided some guidelines to try to follow?
Yellows are mostly control from the Tower. The “Wait” depends on the immediate Danger on the Track, the severity of the incident, and any communication prior to an issue.
I rarely call Yellows from the Flag Stand on my own. I normally radio the turn or area to the Tower, and they make the final decision.
In my racing journey I owe Tim Wile of the Centre for Speed my gratitude for giving me a chance in 2014. That started a regular gig at the Atlantic Championships, and I had Rob Bowness as my Race Director. He became a great friend and mentor. I owe him & Mike Ledwidge for a chance at the Pro Stock Tour. In the meantime, Mark Williams and Drew MacEachern took a chance on me in 2018 for the ECMST. Those great people helped me and I am grateful.
I also need to add:
I need to thank my partner Allison for give me the encouragement to pursue this crazy passion and to my father Charles for joining me at so many stock car races.
