Security and other staff at all NASCAR track facilities will participate in the First Observer™ parking-specific, anti-terrorism training program that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration developed in partnership with the International Parking Institute.

NASCAR's managing director of security, Gerald Cavis, U.S. Secret Service (Ret.), explains:  "I have encouraged all NASCAR track facility security directors to take advantage of this outstanding grant-funded program to train their stadium staff.  I also discussed First Observer at our annual NASCAR summit in Concord, North Carolina, in January. With First Observer, each of our track security directors and staff will have the opportunity to build their skills to detect crimes, safety violations and terrorist threats.  As a result, they will be better prepared to keep NASCAR fans safe."

The First Observer training program, which is entirely funded by the federal government and available at no cost, trains parking professionals to address five critical security areas: on-street, surface parking lots, garages/decks, special events and shuttle operations. First Observers recognize and report potential threats using a concise, accurate and simple communications process.

Funded by the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), First Observer was developed with the help of the International Parking Institute (IPI), the largest trade association of the parking industry.  The program supports the National Preparedness Guidelines of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  IPI was recently named by TSA as its Partner of the Year.

Find out more at www.parking.org.