Plow drivers help make I-500 possible
It’s an unsung job, but it’s vital to making sure I-500 race week runs as smooth as possible.
For eight years now, DJ Mansfield has been one of the track groomers donating his time, as well as his truck and plow, to helping keep the mile long oval up to par for all 500 miles.
The Sault Ste. Marie native works diligently with other volunteers to help pull off the race.
During race day, three pick-up trucks equipped with snow plows tag with a trio of road graders to keep the track as clean from snow, slush and debris as possible.
“Ryan Shunk and I are the longest serving (plow drivers),” said Mansfield.
“Usually the pick-up trucks go in front of the graders, and then the graders will come move the big stuff over. Afterwards the pick-ups come out again and clean up the chutes left by the graders.”
The tactical cleaning teams exit from turn one, and make haste work of the mess built up from snowmobiles zipping along the track as fast as possible. Mansfield sports a burgundy Ford Super Duty, his cohort Shunk pilots a black Ford Super Duty.
“We just go around and make sure everything is clean,” said Shunk. “We try not to get in anyone’s way.”
Mansfield has been a longtime volunteer at the I-500 even before taking up plowing duties. He grew up helping at the track with his grandpa Bill Elliot at the parking shack.
“After he passed away in 2010, I moved down to plowing,” he recalled, remember that race organizers asked him if he was interested in continuing helping in another avenue.
The long days plowing have all been fun experiences for Mansfield. Even when things are frustrating the crews manage to get laughs out of reflecting on the race.
“I’ll get here about 7 a.m. and we’re in the pits until the race is over,” he said, also mentioning, “Ryan and I have broke a bunch of things on our trucks. It’s stuff we sit here now and laugh about.”
Mansfield said the appreciation of the race organizers makes volunteering worth it.