INDIANAPOLIS — Steve Woods has been working at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for 27 years and for the last 15 years he's keeping the track clean has been his pride and joy.
"I don't want anything out there. I want that track to look spotless when I come in, when they get cars on the track. If there were a piece of paper or something that would drive me nuts, I just don't want anything out there so when they come here to clean track," Woods said.
Around the track Woods is known as "Hollywoody," because if there's a crash or damage to the track, he's the guy you'll see cleaning and fixing it as quickly as he can.
He said during the race he might go 80mph down the front stretch to get the marbles, what they call rubber, cleaned up quickly. Most of the time though, before and after races he takes it nice and slow.
"It would take me about eight hours to clean the track," Woods said.
Woods is the facility supervisor, so the sweeper truck is essentially his office.
"Somebody’s calling me on the phone or on the radio 'Hey what's what do we need to do over here?" Woods said.
Woods says even after 27 years of working at IMS when all 33 cars line up and start their engines it's a moment that has him on the edge of his seat.
-
Police investigating alleged road rage shooting on IU Indianapolis campus
Police are investigating an alleged road rage incident where gunshots were fired on Indiana University Indianapolis’ campus on Friday.High school football scores 2024: Week 3
It’s the third week of the 2024 high school football season. See all of the high school football scores in Indiana from Friday, September 6, 2024.Napheesa Collier scores 26 and Lynx win 99-88 over Fever
The Lynx trailed 50-45 at halftime before Collier scored nine of their opening 20 points of the third quarter for a 65-57 lead.Colts players, Guardian Sports weigh in on new protection on the football field
Now, for the first time, the NFL is allowing players to wear a soft shell padding over their helmet during games for the 2024-2025 season. They're called Guardian Caps.