Thibodaux LA Firefighter Joins Pit Crew for NASCAR Race

Coby Brignac is going to NASCAR's Geico 500 at the Talladega Superspeedway this weekend, but not as a spectator.

The 48-year-old Thibodaux firefighter will be working with the pit crew to protect racecar drivers and their teams.

Although Brignac said he's not the biggest NASCAR fan, he was intrigued with the prospect of being a part of such a massive spectacle.

"I watched it a little bit on TV, but I never was really a big NASCAR person," Brignac said. "I know a couple of the drivers' names from watching them on TV, but I've never been a real follower of it."

Brignac, who's served with the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department for about 13 years, also works as a full-time firefighter and EMT with Bayer in Luling.

"I don't get a break," he said. "If I'm working, I'm a fireman. If I'm off, I'm still a fireman. It's pretty much 24/7 for me."

Brignac also works as an LSU adjunct instructor in Baton Rouge. His Talladega opportunity came a few months ago during a training session.

"I got a buddy of mine who's also an adjunct instructor," Brignac said. "He's been doing the Talladega race for at least 15 years. We were training in St. Bernard Parish one day, and he asked if I would be interested in being a fireman at Talladega for the race. I never thought about it before. He's one of the captains and said he could get me in."

Brignac was initially hesitant due to his busy schedule, but his family encouraged him to take the gig.

"They got in touch with me and I had to do some online training for NASCAR first," Brignac said. "Once I completed that I had to go to the speedway in Talladega for some more training. I wanted to see what it was all about. I still wasn't sure if I was going to go to the race. My wife's the one who really pushed me. She said I had to go because it could be a once in a lifetime opportunity."

Brignac said seeing the Talladega Superspeedway on TV is one thing, but seeing the massive track in person is an entirely different experience.

"That place is huge," he said. "We went to the training and they took us up in the tower that overlooks everything. You can't imagine how big it is. I was in awe. They told us when we're in the pits we can't get preoccupied or tunnel vision. You've got to keep your head on a swivel, because if there's an accident, by the time you hear it, the accident is past you already. That's how fast they're going."

As part of the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the Geico 500 will run 188 laps and over 500 miles.

"They told us what to do if we have to go out on the track to help a race car driver get out of a car," Brignac said. "They also told us how to turn all the electrical stuff off in the car, so that was pretty interesting. I've seen it on TV but never saw it in person. Every race car driver has to have firemen in their pit in case something happens."

Brignac said his biggest Talladega challenge so far is finding a hotel room on the weekend of the race. He eventually found lodgings in Birmingham, which is about 40 minutes from the track.

"But that's pretty much what I drive right now to work," he said.

Brignac plans on arriving to Alabama on Thursday and will work in the pit in three separate races. His family is also planning to attend the race to see him in action.

"I still don't know which pit I'm going to be in," Brignac said. "I think it's the luck of the draw on the day of the race. We'll see what happens."

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