Brian Carroll '79

“You know, before I started working at Watkins Glen, I wasn’t a racing fan,” Brian Carroll '79 admits. “Now, I watch all kinds of races.”

Carroll had worked as a volunteer firefighter in his town of Sherrill, NY, then about 12 years ago, a friend who worked as an official for NASCAR told him that Watkins Glen needed firefighters. Since then, Carroll has worked 2-3 races every year, overseeing other firefighters, working on the pit road, and supervising the garages and the fuel station.

After his retirement from Eli Lily in 2017, he also started working at the Indianapolis 500. He’s had the opportunities to meet some of the biggest names in racing, including Hélio Castroneves, the winner of this year’s Indy 500. Castroneves won Dancing with the Stars in 2007, and Carroll took the opportunity to rib him a little about it.

“I told him I only watched because of him! And of course I also told him that I voted for him,” Carroll said. “He told me that was why he won.”

The NASCAR season is still in full swing, and Carroll is anticipating three more big races this year.

“Last year Watkins Glen didn’t have any races. Indy did, but with no fans. Now everything is pretty much back open. It’s good to be back,” Carroll said. 

While Brian is retired, his drive to care for his community hasn’t slowed down one bit.