3/5/2019
RacinBoys
Meet the Lucas Oil Speedway Staff: 10-year employee Amber Hoelschler enjoys many duties
By Lyndal Scranton (Wheatland, MO) -- Chances are that anyone who's come through the Lucas Oil Speedway pit office - whether a driver, crew member or media member - has encountered the smiling face of Amber Hoelscher.
Getting ready to begin her 10th season at the speedway, Hoelscher has been a full-time employee since 2017. Along with managing the pit office, she oversees accounting and human resources. Race nights also find her helping with race operations in the main tower, once everyone has signed in and the engines have fired up.
It's a fast-paced job that the native of Yuma, Arizona, enjoys. Hoelscher, who resides in Bolivar with husband Lance, began working at Lucas Oil Speedway in 2009 in various part-time capacities such as front gate and concessions cashier.
Racing is a family event for the Hoelschers. Lance worked on the speedway's security staff last year. This season, he's assisting with pre and post-race tech. The couple has three kids - sons Keegan (7) and Kohlt (1) and daughter Karah (10).
"I really wasn't a race fan until I started scoring, about three years ago," she said. "That really changed my outlook on racing."
Not that scorers are able to watch the races like fans. That job can be intense, especially in the features with 20 or more cars on the track. While Lucas Oil Speedway has electronic scoring, races also are scored the old-fashioned way, by hand, as a backup.
"You don't really get to watch the race. You would think that you would get to, but you don't," she said. "I enjoyed hand scoring, but it's definitely challenging at times."
Hoelscher said one of the most enjoyable aspects of her job is getting to meet the drivers and media personnel who come through the pit office. That also can get hectic, especially during special events - or opening night when drivers traditionally have had to fill out registration paperwork.
This year, through the MyRacePass application, there is some relief for the opening-night logjam. Drivers are being encouraged to fill out their application form ahead of time.
"Once they do that, I can print it out and all they'll have to do is sign it and pay their membership fee," Hoelscher said. "That will really speed things up."
"Also, they can claim their profiles and enter their sponsor and bio information on the MyRacePass site because that will be where the announcers get their information from, unlike in the past, where we had them fill out a profile page and pass it along to the announcers."
Drivers can check out an explanation of the MyRacePass Profile to get more information about how it streamlines entering the track on race nights.
Meanwhile, Hoelscher is eager to get the new season going with opening night just a few weeks away.
"I couldn't ask for a better person to be doing the jobs she does in the office and on race nights," Lucas Oil Speedway General Manager Danny Lorton said. "Since taking over accounting, HR and the Pit Office Manager duties, she has done a tremendous job and is always focused on what she does.
"Amber is a great asset to the company."
The 2019 Lucas Oil Speedway season kicks off March 30 with an open test and tune. The Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series begins April 6 with action in all four of the weekly divisions - Pitts Homes USRA Modifieds, Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods, Warsaw Auto Marine & RV ULMA Late Models and O'Reilly Auto Parts Street Stocks.
To inquire about tickets, VIP suites or camping, contact McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or via email at Nichole@LucasOilSpeedway.com.
Submitted By: Kirk Elliott
