Shifting gears: Malmstrom members work speedway security

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dillon White
  • 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  (Editor's note: This is the second story in a three-part series on the Electric City Speedway and Team Malmstrom's community involvement and participation in race track driving.) 

Tires spin, mud flies and the sound of V-8 engines reverberate through the grand stands as race cars daftly slide through the high-banked corners of the Electric City Speedway located at 2801 Old Havre Hwy. 

For most people, this is a spectator sport. For a handful of servicemembers at Malmstrom, and a few civilian contractors, this is where they come to work their second job. Team Malmstrom members can be seen sporting their red-and-white track uniforms and headsets on most Saturday nights and during the occasional weeknight race. 

The security team at the track patrols the parking lot and prevents people from sneaking into the track. The team also makes sure spectators are not smoking or drinking in specified sections of the grand stands, as well as making sure youth remain at a safe distance from the track. 

"They're absolutely good people who know how to get the job done," said Dan Mann, Electric City Speedway owner, about the track security employees. 

Master Sgt. Jason Jezewski, 341st Maintenance Operations Squadron first sergeant, is the security supervisor at the track. 

"We make sure everybody is safe," Sergeant Jezewski said. "The Cascade County Sheriff drops in during the races and there is an ambulance on-scene at all times."
"He keeps the peace," said Kevin Rinehart 341st Security Support Squadron combat arms instructor and race driver, about Sergeant Jezewski. 

Sergeant Jezewski is not the only member of the 341st MOS who works at the track.
"I've been coming here for three or four years [as a spectator] anyway, so I got a job here," said Staff Sgt. John Powell 341st MOS special purpose vehicle operations instructor. "It's a blast, I get to watch the racing and meet people." 

Sergeant Powell said if someone is smoking or drinking in one of the designated non- smoking, non-drinking sections, a member of the security team will ask them to move, and that he usually patrols the parking lot and generally enforces the rules to keep spectators safe. 

The security team seems to enjoy their jobs and they work well with each other.
"All of us get along really well and the crew rotates between watching the grand stands, walking the parking lot and checking tickets as people go in and out of the spectator area," said Craig Davis, 341st Communication Squadron radio maintenance technician. 

"I work four or five hours and still get to watch the racing; plus, it's golf money." 

Sergeant Jezewski agrees with Mr. Davis about the members of the security team. 

"I'm a people person, I love everybody I work with," Sergeant Jezewski said. 

Donna McPartlin works at the 341st CS and is a retired Air Force technical sergeant. She is currently a pit-gate clerk at the track and has worked at the track for more than five years. 

Ms. McPartlin describes the track as a place to meet people and establish a social network outside of the base. 

"This is a weekend social life; you make new contacts at the track," she said.
Ms. McPartlin's enthusiasm about the sights, sounds and fast-paced racing at the track encouraged several of Team Malmstrom's Warriors to start working at the track. 

"She recruited everybody," Sergeant Jezewski said. 

The security team seems to take pride in the safety of the track and its atmosphere. 

"It's a family run business, and if you're looking for cheap family fun then come here," Sergeant Jezewski said. 

After the races, children present the trophies to the winning drivers and pose for a picture with the driver and his or her car as well. 

"Sometimes the drivers give the trophies to the kids to keep," Ms. McPartlin said. "I think that is kind of cool." 

The third part of this three part series will focus on the people who are at the heart of the action, the race car drivers from Malmstrom. 

For Electric City Speedway race times and details, go to www.electriccityspeedway.com.