Perch on starter's stand a promising view for Lopez

Kim Lopez grew up in the Bronx and took the subway to school.

She hung out at pizzerias and read Page Six of the New York Post, shopped for hot trends on the Boulevard.

She didn't sip sweet tea on a porch and she certainly didn't tailgate at NASCAR tracks or listen to Merle.

So how is it that this city slicker now has one of the coolest gigs in the sport?

"I don't know I just applied," shrugged Lopez, who made history this season when she became the first female to flag a race in one of NASCAR's top three series. "I went to my first race in 2001 and thought I really wanted to work in the sport."

As simple as she makes it sound, being a chief starter and NASCAR official in the Craftsman Truck Series is much more complex.

"You can wave in a Figure 8 or wave it by dipping it down. One thing I know is that you don't want a color stick. It's when the flag wraps around the stick and all you see is color around the stick. That's bad."

Q: Honestly, why NASCAR and how did you get the job?

Lopez: Well I applied to be a NASCAR official in 2004. I decided to because my parents who were living in Concord, N.C., at the time took me to my first race at Lowe's Motor Speedway and I was so impressed by the cars, the sounds, the sights, everything. I got the job at the start of the 2005 season as an official and then this year our longtime chief starter [Dennis James, 57] passed away and they asked me to step in.

Q: You have a background in auto mechanics, tell us about that.

Lopez: Yeah before NASCAR, I worked as general manager of a Pep Boys and ran inventory, pay roll and scheduled shipments. So I'm very familiar with cars. But I've always just loved cars. I was a big tomboy growing up and hung out with my brother and worked on cars with him a lot. I just liked anything that moved fast.

Q: Were you at the Texas Motor Speedway flagging the Truck race last weekend?

Lopez: Yeah, there were several red flags in that one as you probably saw. I did Texas. I stood on the flag stand high above the start/finish line. My first one was the Truck race in Las Vegas and I also did Martinsville. I just found out I get to do Homestead, which is a huge honor because it is the last race of the season. I will get to wave the flag on the Truck champion.

Q: How does your job work? How many races do you travel to?

Lopez: About 28 a year including Canada and Mexico -- I help as a translator in certain situations. As for flagging a race, it's harder than what people think. It's fun, but it isn't easy. You get up there and pay close attention to everything that is happening on the track. We're the eyes for the tower and can tell them if we see something they may not. You wait for the tower to tell you what flags to wave -- cautions, red flags, blue and yellow. You have to watch for trucks a lap down. I do green flag, the one-to-go flag and checkered. I do all of them. You always have to be on top of everything, look out for debris and in constant communication with the NASCAR tower.

Q: Tell us about your technique and what happens if the flag falls from your hands?

Lopez: Well we have a backup flagger that hands me the flags so that person helps out. My technique, I was told, to do what make me feel comfortable. You can wave in a Figure 8 or wave it by dipping it down. One thing I know is that you don't want a color stick.

Q: What's a color stick?

Lopez: It's when the flag wraps around the stick and all you see is color around the stick. That's bad. And, when there ain't no air blowing, you gotta make it blow.

Q: You're also a NASCAR official, right?

Lopez: Yes, I stand on pit road and look for speeding, too many crew members over the wall, correct equipment, safety helmets, etc. The view from the flag stand is much greater though, I will admit.

Q: I bet you love your job?

Lopez: Absolutely. I love the atmosphere. Being up there, feeling the rush of the trucks coming on to you is an empowering feeling.

Q: You're somewhat of a pioneer in the sport as the first female chief starter. How does that feel?

Lopez: I think it is great and it is showing more and more women can do this job. It shows young women before me that we are coming up in the world and doing more with the sport and NASCAR.

Q: What's your next big step?

Lopez: My only goal is to make it through another season and enjoy every moment of it. I really like the Truck Series. I like Cup and Busch as well. My parents always told me to at least try everything once in life.