He began his career as a firefighter in Lyons, IN.
A few years later he decided to take his talents to the track of the Indianapolis 500.
“When I got a little older I thought, well it’d be neat to work up there and do something. So I went up there in 1976 and interviewed,” he said. “And they happened to be hiring firefighters then.”
Waggoner became a crucial part of the track rescue team, “You respond for any kind of an accident or any kind of a spin or anything.”
While fans enjoyed themselves, and racers competed for first place, Waggoner and his team monitored the track with careful eyes.
“We’re out there mainly for the safety of the drivers and the people. We enjoy the racing too,” he said. “But we can’t concentrate too much on the event because we gotta make sure that everything is safe around us.”
The track and rescue team was never a nine to five job for Waggoner.
He’s driven around the legendary track, worked 41 races, and formed friendships that last a lifetime.
“I’ve met a lot of people on the track rescue from all over the United States you know. I’ve got a friend down in Florida,” he said. “I’ve got one or two in Chicago and Cincinnati. You get friendship there that you see every year and it’s kinda nice, you know.”
Waggoner retired in 2016, but he still makes time to help out with time trials and other events leading up to the 500.
After 45 years with the 500 he’s still just as amazed with the race as he was hearing it on the radio all those years ago.
“Oh it’s the greatest race in the world, I guess you know. It’s known all over the world,” he said. “And it was just kinda neat to be from a small town and a small fire department and to be able to participate in that and work up there.”
