Impact Rescue Safety Team

09/01/2026

🏁 TRACK RESCUE TUESDAY

RACECAR EXTRICATION: WHEN TO CUT, WHAT TO CUT & WHAT TO USE

When we hear the word extrication, most of us immediately picture hydraulic rescue tools tearing a car apart.

But in motorsports rescue, that shouldn’t automatically be our first move.

Good racecar extrication isn’t about how much car you can cut apart. It’s about making the smallest, safest, most deliberate move necessary to get the driver out.

Before grabbing a cutter, ask one question:

Does this driver actually need extrication?

If the driver is alert, medically appropriate, the racecar is stable, and they can safely exit under the direction of the rescue crew, there may be no reason to start cutting.

If they can’t self-extricate, our next question should be:

Can we create a normal removal path?

Depending on the racecar, simply removing or releasing the steering wheel, window net, belts, head surround, door panel, containment components, or other removable equipment may provide the space we need.

Remember: disassembly is still part of extrication.

WHEN SHOULD WE CONSIDER MORE INVOLVED EXTRICATION?

We may need to escalate when we have:

• Significant cockpit intrusion
• Deformed door bars or roll-cage structure blocking access
• A trapped or pinned extremity
• Steering or dashboard components trapping the driver
• A damaged seat or containment system preventing removal
• A compromised normal exit path
• A driver whose medical condition requires a more controlled removal
• A vehicle position that makes normal removal unsafe

And sometimes we have the opposite problem.

Fire, significant fuel leakage, an unstable vehicle, or another immediate life threat may mean we don’t have time for a textbook extrication.

That’s when rescue and medical personnel have to balance the risk of movement against the risk of leaving the driver where they are.

DON’T JUDGE THE EXTRICATION BY THE CRASH

A destroyed racecar doesn’t automatically require a complicated extrication.

And a car that doesn’t look badly damaged doesn’t automatically mean an easy removal.

Treat the driver and the problem in front of you—not the appearance of the crash.

OKAY…WE NEED TO EXTRICATE. WHAT DO WE USE?

This is where racecar rescue can differ significantly from passenger-vehicle extrication.

Your hydraulic rescue tools are incredibly valuable—but they aren’t always the first or best tool for the job.

Sometimes a socket and ratchet will solve the problem faster and with less risk than a cutter.

Your racecar extrication equipment should give you options:

🔧 Basic hand tools — sockets, ratchets, wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers and specialty tools appropriate for the cars at your facility.

🪚 Reciprocating saw — useful for controlled cuts where appropriate, provided we understand what’s behind the material we’re cutting.

⚙️ Oscillating/multi-tools and other precision equipment — useful when working around interior panels and components where a large rescue tool would be excessive.

✂️ Hydraulic/battery rescue tools — cutters, spreaders and combi tools remain extremely important when substantial structural work is actually required.

🪵 Stabilization equipment — cribbing, wedges and straps aren’t glamorous, but controlling vehicle movement comes before creating additional movement with rescue tools.

🛡️ Driver protection — hard and soft protection, eye protection and methods of controlling debris and sharp edges should be readily available.

🔥 Fire suppression — whenever we’re cutting around a damaged racecar, appropriate fire protection needs to be immediately available.

BEFORE YOU CUT — KNOW WHAT’S THERE.

This may be the most important part of today’s discussion.

A racecar isn’t just tubing and sheet metal.

Around that cockpit could be:

Fuel lines.
Oil lines.
Electrical cables.
Battery cables.
Fire-suppression plumbing.
Pressurized components.
The fuel cell.
The battery.
Onboard fire bottles.

Don’t blindly put a cutter or saw into something because it looks like the easiest place to make an opening.

LOOK. FEEL. IDENTIFY. PROTECT. THEN CUT.

And don’t forget the driver.

Communicate what you’re doing. Protect them from debris. Control sharp edges. Consider where the tool and the component being cut are going to move after the cut is completed.

YOUR BEST RESCUE TOOL MAY BE KNOWLEDGE.

Learn the racecars that compete at your facility.

Walk through the pits.

Talk to drivers and crew chiefs.

Learn how the steering wheel releases. Learn how the containment seat comes apart. Find the master disconnect. Know where the battery and fuel cell are located. Look at how the door bars and cage are constructed.

Do that before there’s a driver trapped inside one.

Because when an actual extrication happens, that’s a terrible time to learn how the racecar is built.

The goal isn’t to prove how powerful our rescue tools are.

The goal is to safely create enough space to get our driver out.

Sometimes that takes a hydraulic cutter.

Sometimes it takes a saw.

And sometimes…

it takes a 9/16-inch socket.

Train for the big extrication—but become exceptionally good at the small, deliberate moves that may prevent you from ever needing one.

08/25/2026

🏁 TRACK RESCUE TUESDAY 🏁

ON-TRACK VEHICLE PLACEMENT — YOUR TRUCK IS A TOOL

When an incident happens on the racing surface, where you park your response vehicle matters.

We spend a lot of time talking about extrication equipment, fire suppression, medical equipment and PPE. But there’s another extremely important tool sitting right in front of us:

The response truck itself.

Your truck is a tool just as much as your extrication equipment, fire suppression equipment or medical gear. Use it to your advantage.

Once you arrive at an incident, that several-thousand-pound response vehicle can become one of your crew’s most important forms of protection.

Race cars may still be circulating. Visibility can be affected by smoke, dust, darkness or the configuration of the track. Even under caution, responders should never assume an approaching race car is going to see them or maintain control.

🚒 MAIN BLOCK — FIRE/RESCUE TRUCK

The primary response truck establishes the main protective block.

When practical, position and angle the vehicle so that it creates a physical barrier between your personnel and approaching race traffic.

Then work from the protected side of that vehicle.

Don’t park the truck and immediately forget about it. Think about where it is positioned, what direction the danger is coming from and where your crew is going to work.

🛻 SECONDARY BLOCK

A chase or additional response vehicle positioned behind the incident can provide another layer of protection and help establish a defined working area around the race car.

🪝 RECOVERY VEHICLES

Wreckers should be positioned so they can perform their job without unnecessarily interfering with fire, rescue or medical operations.

🚑 AMBULANCE

When practicable, the ambulance should be positioned at the bottom of the track, just ahead of the incident.

This helps keep the ambulance out of the primary blocking and recovery area while still keeping it close enough for rapid patient access. It also helps maintain a clearer path if the patient needs to be loaded and transported.

Like every other vehicle on the scene, ambulance placement should be deliberate. Don’t unnecessarily put the ambulance—and another crew—directly in the hazard area when a safer position can accomplish the same job.

YOUR TRUCK IS PART OF YOUR PROTECTION SYSTEM

We wear helmets, fire-resistant clothing, gloves and other PPE because we recognize the hazards of working on a racetrack.

Vehicle placement is another layer of that protection.

Your response truck isn’t going to eliminate every hazard, and no blocking position should create additional danger. But thoughtful placement can put a substantial physical barrier between your crew and one of the biggest hazards on scene — another race car entering your workspace.

Think of the response vehicle the same way you think about every other piece of equipment you bring to the track:

Extrication equipment is a tool.
Fire suppression equipment is a tool.
Medical equipment is a tool.
Your response truck is a tool.

Use every tool available to protect your crew.

08/19/2026

🚨 IMPACT RESCUE SAFETY TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨

📍 Scottsburg, Indiana
📅 August 19, 2026

The Impact Rescue Safety Team is excited to announce that we have reached an agreement with the promoters of the Great American Be**er Bash in Leitchfield, Kentucky, to provide safety coverage for their event on May 1, 2027!

Impact Rescue will provide fire protection and basic medical support for all classes competing in the demolition derby.

The Great American Be**er Bash is hosted by Nick Buechlein, better known on social media as “Tuck Fard.” The event will feature both local demolition derby classes and a special social media influencer class, making this one we’re definitely looking forward to!

“We are excited for this event and the opportunity to work with Nick and his crew. Our goal is to provide excellent safety and medical service to every driver competing and help make this a safe and successful event.”
— Jonathan Sears, Safety Director, Impact Rescue Safety Team

We would like to thank Nick and everyone involved with the Great American Be**er Bash for giving Impact Rescue the opportunity to be part of this event. We appreciate their trust in our team and look forward to working alongside them in May!

🔥 May 1, 2027 — Leitchfield, Kentucky
💥 Great American Be**er Bash

For additional information, event updates, classes, and announcements, check out the Great American Be**er Bash page link below.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1983NJEqsc/?mibextid=wwXIfr

**erBash

The Great American Be**er Bash is a demolition derby held at the Grayson County Fairgrounds in Leitchfield, Kentucky!

08/18/2026

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08/18/2026

🔥 TRACK RESCUE TUESDAY: FOAM vs. WATER — THE FIRE YOU CAN’T SEE 🔥

This week we’re going deeper into fuel fires.
Most track safety crews understand that water cools and foam can extinguish a fuel fire. But there’s another part of the equation that deserves much more attention:

V***R SUPPRESSION.

Extinguishing the visible flame does not necessarily mean the hazard is gone.
A puddle of gasoline or methanol can continue producing flammable v***rs after the fire has been knocked down. Give those v***rs an ignition source—hot exhaust, electrical arcing, another race car, a hot brake component—and you can have re-ignition or flashback.
That is where a properly selected and properly applied foam blanket becomes extremely important.

⛽ GASOLINE: WATER DOESN’T CREATE A V***R BARRIER

Gasoline is essentially water-immiscible. It doesn’t readily mix with water.
If we simply dump water onto a gasoline spill, we’re generally not eliminating the fuel. The gasoline can remain on the surface and continue producing flammable v***rs. Worse, aggressive streams can physically move the product and spread the problem.
The DOT Emergency Response Guide guidance for gasoline specifically warns that water spray may be inefficient and recommends avoiding straight or solid streams directly onto the product. Vapor-suppressing foam can be used to reduce v***rs.
This is why foam can offer something water alone cannot:

A maintained blanket between the fuel and the atmosphere.
Think about the foam blanket as a lid.
The foam covers the liquid surface, separates the fuel from oxygen, and—depending on the foam chemistry—suppresses the release of flammable v***r.
That’s incredibly important after knockdown.

🔥 NO FLAME DOESN’T MEAN NO FIRE HAZARD.

If gasoline is still lying underneath the car and we’re immediately walking responders into it, moving the car, hooking a wrecker to it or allowing other vehicles around it, we need to be thinking about what that fuel is still doing.

🧪 NOW LET’S TALK METHANOL

This is where things get considerably more interesting.
Methanol is a polar solvent and water-miscible fuel.
Unlike gasoline, methanol mixes with water.
That means water can dilute methanol, and with sufficient dilution it can eventually reduce its ability to burn. Water fog/spray can therefore have an important role in methanol incidents.
But there are some HUGE catches.
NIOSH guidance warns that water spray may be inefficient and recommends water spray, fog or alcohol-resistant foam depending on the size of the fire. Straight streams should not be directed into the product.
And here’s one of the biggest lessons for race-track crews:

🫧 NOT ALL FOAM IS METHANOL FOAM.

Methanol attacks ordinary foam blankets.
That’s why a foam that works well on a hydrocarbon fuel such as gasoline may perform poorly on methanol.
For a polar-solvent fuel like methanol, you want a foam specifically listed/rated for alcohol or polar-solvent fuels—commonly referred to as alcohol-resistant foam.
Alcohol-resistant foam uses chemistry designed to protect the foam blanket from destruction by the water-miscible fuel. Certain AR formulations form a polymer-type protective barrier between the fuel and the foam.
That’s the v***r barrier we’re after.
Research involving large-scale methanol pool fires has demonstrated that alcohol-resistant foams can spread across the burning methanol surface and successfully extinguish the fire.

WHY DOES THE V***R BARRIER MATTER?

Imagine we’ve had a methanol-fueled race car crash.
The driver is out.
The visible fire has been knocked down.
There’s still methanol underneath and around the car.

Everyone relaxes because:
“The fire’s out.”
But methanol is still volatile and flammable. Methanol v***r/air mixtures can ignite, and methanol fires can be particularly deceptive because the flame may be extremely difficult to see in daylight.
A properly maintained alcohol-resistant foam blanket can help suppress those v***rs and reduce the likelihood of ignition while rescue, recovery and cleanup continue.
And the word maintained matters.
The Methanol Institute warns that methanol fires are known to restart if foam suppression is discontinued too soon and recommends continuing appropriate foam application after the apparent extinguishment.

💧 SO IS WATER BAD?

Absolutely not.
Water is one of our most valuable tools.
The question is:

What are we asking the water to accomplish?
Water is excellent for cooling hot components, protecting exposures and cooling fuel containers. With methanol, properly applied water fog/spray can also dilute the fuel and assist with suppression.

But cooling, dilution, flame knockdown and v***r suppression are different objectives.

That’s the important distinction.
If our objective is controlling a pool of volatile fuel and suppressing its v***rs, a correctly selected foam blanket may provide protection that simply spraying water across the area does not.

🏁 WHAT THIS MEANS FOR A TRACK SAFETY TEAM

Before buying a foam concentrate simply because the container says “Class B Foam,” find out exactly what fuels it is rated for.

Your track should know:
• Are our race cars running gasoline, methanol, ethanol or blends?
• Is our foam rated for hydrocarbons?
• Is it rated for polar solvents/alcohol fuels?
• What concentration does the manufacturer require for each fuel?
• Is our proportioning equipment capable of delivering that concentration?
• Are our nozzles appropriate for the foam we’re carrying?
• Do our responders know how to apply foam gently enough to establish a blanket instead of plunging the stream into the fuel and destroying the blanket?

And here’s another question worth asking:

After we knock the fire down, who is responsible for maintaining the v***r barrier while everyone else works?

That should be part of the incident plan—not an afterthought.

🔥 THE TAKEAWAY

GASOLINE: Think hydrocarbon fuel. Water can cool and assist with protection, but don’t assume water coverage has eliminated the v***r hazard. Proper foam can establish a v***r-suppressing blanket.

METHANOL: Think polar solvent. It mixes with water, so water fog/spray and dilution can play a role—but ordinary foam may be destroyed by the fuel. Use foam specifically rated for alcohol/polar-solvent service when foam is the chosen tactic.

BOTH: Don’t judge the safety of the scene solely by whether you can still see flames.

The goal isn’t simply:

FIRE OUT.

The goal is:

FIRE OUT → FUEL CONTROLLED → V***RS SUPPRESSED → SCENE SAFE FOR RESCUE AND RECOVERY.

🏁 TRACK RESCUE TUESDAY

What does your track carry for fuel fires—and does everyone on your safety team know whether that foam is actually compatible with the fuels racing at your facility?

08/15/2026

Today, we remember Devonnia Tscheulin, our very first Jump Medic, who passed away on this date three years ago.

Devonnia was a paramedic who dedicated her life to helping others, both on and off the racetrack. She helped set the standard for what a Jump Medic should be—someone willing to go toward the danger when a driver needs help the most.

In her memory, we continue to support the AFE (Amniotic Fluid Embolism) Foundation.

AFE is a rare, sudden, and life-threatening childbirth complication that can occur without warning. The AFE Foundation supports survivors and grieving families, provides education for healthcare professionals, and helps fund and advance research so we can better understand, recognize, and treat this devastating condition.

For us, supporting this organization is personal. Today we remember Devonnia for the lives she touched, the people she helped, and the legacy she left behind.

08/13/2026

https://youtu.be/ithYSKTzP_o?is=9lFTwM6BHUgMm4Wg

After all the discussion about the "insurance" question, we thought...

08/11/2026

08/04/2026

Track Rescue Tuesday

Mission Accomplished Isn’t Luck—It’s Preparation

When the final checkered flag falls and every driver, official, and fan goes home safely, it’s easy to think nothing happened.

The truth is, that’s exactly what success in track rescue looks like.

Much like NASA’s Mission Control celebrating the safe return of Apollo crews, a successful race night is the result of countless people working together behind the scenes. Every responder has a job. Every radio transmission matters. Every decision made in the heat of the moment can change an outcome.

Most fans will never know:

* The fuel leak that was contained before it became a fire.
* The suspension part removed from the racing surface before another car hit it.
* The driver evaluated and safely released after a hard impact.
* The fire extinguished before it spread.
* The race restarted because the safety team worked efficiently.

Those aren’t lucky breaks.

They’re the result of planning, training, communication, and professionalism.

Before the Green Flag

The mission begins long before the first engine fires.

Successful teams:

* Inspect rescue equipment.
* Test radios.
* Check medical supplies.
* Inspect fire extinguishers.
* Review assignments and response plans.
* Discuss weather and track conditions.
* Prepare for the incidents they hope never happen.

When the green flag waves, the preparation is already complete.

During the Race

A great track rescue team isn’t measured by how dramatic their response looks.

They’re measured by:

* Calm decision-making.
* Clear communication.
* Fast but controlled actions.
* Protecting each other while protecting the driver.
* Returning the track to racing safely—not just quickly.

Everyone has a role, and no role is unimportant.

After the Checkered Flag

The job isn’t over.

Professional teams take time to:

* Restock equipment.
* Clean and inspect PPE.
* Refuel response vehicles.
* Replace damaged supplies.
* Conduct an after-action review.
* Ask one simple question:

“What can we do better next week?”

That’s how good teams become great teams.

Mission Complete

At the end of the night, the greatest victory isn’t a trophy or a paycheck.

It’s knowing every responder went home.

Every driver went home.

Every fan went home.

If that happened, then Mission Control can finally lean back, light the celebratory cigar, and say…

“Mission Complete.

Discussion Question:
What was the most challenging incident you’ve ever responded to where preparation made all the difference? Share your experience in the comments so others can learn from it.

07/29/2026

Let’s get this out there

In honor of Case Higgins, we’re launching the .

Case continues to fight every day, and our family continues to pray for him and the Higgins family. Our hope is to encourage every racer to practice one of the most important safety skills there is: getting out of the race car quickly in the event of an emergency.

How to participate:

🔹Have someone video you and post it, tagging Factory Fourteen and using .

🔹Challenge 3 other racers to complete the .

🔹Wear all of your safety gear with your belts latched, neck restraint connected, and visor down.

🔹Start with both hands on the steering wheel. The timer begins the moment your hands leave the wheel.

🔹Before unbuckling your belts, turn off all master/power switches on the dash.

🔹Exit the race car as quickly and safely as possible. The timer stops when both feet touch the ground.

It’s important to us that every driver is confident and comfortable getting out of their race car in an emergency. No matter what type of car you race, what class or division you compete in, or your age, we encourage you to participate and help spread awareness.

To encourage as many drivers as possible to get involved, everyone who completes the and follows the rules will be entered into a drawing. Five winners will each receive a Factory Fourteen merchandise bundle valued at over $100 each.

The challenge runs through August 31st, and we’ll announce the winners on September 1st.

Every driver should practice and become comfortable with the skill of safely exiting their race car in case they are in a situation when it’s needed most. We encourage parents, crews, and teams to make it part of their routine.

Please continue to keep Case and the Higgins family in your prayers. We are believing and praying for his continued strength and healing. ❤️