Sonia Ridley, shown with Kenny Wallace, has a long history with NASCAR. Her cousin, Jody Ridley, won a race at Dover in 1981.

ONMC member played key role in rescue effort

Ridley discusses her role after a 'copter crash at Homestead

My morning started around 7 as I dressed in semi-darkness so I wouldn't wake the sleeping beauties in my room. Heading for a jog on South Beach, I put on my running shoes and my Official NASCAR Members Club "Track Jac." (Publicity anywhere, everywhere!) All week, the news had said the race would be rained out. But as the sky began to clear, I had the feeling that we were going to race today!

My friends and I arrived at the track a little before lunch and went over to the ONMC booth to meet fellow Clubbies.

SONIA RIDLEY •   Lives: Chatsworth, Ga.  •   Club status: Local Chapter President; joined in July 2005  •   Occupation: Trauma nurse  •   Family racing history: "My cousin, Jody Ridley, ran 140 Cup Series races in the 1970s and 1980s and won at Dover in 1981. Somewhat embarrassingly, my family's NASCAR history goes way back to illegal liquor-running in the 1940s."  •   Favorite drivers: Bill Elliott, Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart.  •   At the track: "I go to six to eight races per year. I have attended races at Richmond, Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami, Talladega and Daytona. My true "home" track is North Georgia Mini Speedway, a one-fifth-mile clay oval go-kart track that my brother and I own and operate."  •   Family: "I have three beautiful daughters, Miranda and identical twin girls Megan and Marla."

My credentials allowed me access to pit row, so I went trackside to chat and enjoy race-day preparations. I am a dirt track owner-operator, so I know the lingo and logistics involved in getting ready to race ... but my 1/5-mile track doesn't compare to Homestead and its grand, sophisticated Ford 400 event.

I was invited to sit behind the tool box of Tony Stewart, one of my favorite drivers, during the race. This prized spot put me over the wall at the end of the race with my friends and the Home Depot crew as we celebrated the championship.

Fireworks and festivities over, I walked my champagne-soaked boots over to the ONMC kiosk to say goodbye to my peeps. Ed Martin, national director of the Local Chapters of the ONMC, was there and gave me a lift on the ONMC limo -- aka golf cart -- to the ONMC Clubhouse. I asked Ed if he had a rocket booster on the back of the cart to get us through the mess of straggling fans.

A few moments later, we witnessed the frantic fury of choppers heading to the landing pad outside the track. Suddenly, we heard a loud whirring sound and a grating of metal. One of the choppers went hurtling past us and crash-landed near the helipad to our right. The other chopper fell to the ground on its side with a loud thud and immediately burst into flames.

I don't remember Ed stopping the golf cart. I'm not sure he did.

Nonetheless, we both jumped from the cart and crossed over a concrete barrier toward the crash site.

I have been a trauma nurse for almost 20 years, but nothing prepared me for what I encountered as I stood before the downed chopper, the flames too hot to get close. I yelled for a fire extinguisher and saw campers pulling hoses toward the fire. I realized there was nothing I could do until the fire was extinguished. I continued to help other fans and campers pull the hoses until the fire was out.

It was then I realized that the helicopter had crashed into an RV. I watched as the paramedics loaded the pilot onto the stretcher and into the back of the ambulance.

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As I stepped back, I saw an older, gray-haired man, visibly shaken, and asked if he was OK. He said he was the owner of the camper that had been struck by the chopper. He had been in the camper when he realized he needed something from his truck. He had just opened the door to his truck, which was about 15 feet from his RV, when the chopper crushed his trailer.

Luckily, his friend who was staying with him was visiting another campsite when the chopper came down.

As I turned around to step farther out of the way, I almost bumped into a man in blue jeans and a cutoff T-shirt who was watching the scene. It was Carl Edwards. Neither of us spoke as we watched the ambulance pull away from the crash site.

I encountered members of the media as I left, and I gave them as much information as I could, but I left the scene with a heavy heart. I felt the pilot had not survived, and my fears were confirmed when I saw the news the next morning.

It was a heartbreaking end to the day but, nontheless, I will gladly serve the ONMC and NASCAR community if my skills are needed in the future.