Med-Star Dirt Track Rescue is known across the country as one of the best fire and ambulance crews in the sport.

It’s attention to detail. The company prides itself on training, good equipment, response time, building relationships, and most important, a passion to service racetracks and the drivers that compete.

The reputation is one Jay Masur, CEO and President of Med-Star Paramedic and Ambulance, has built over 40 years. On Thursday, that reputation was questioned in a statement released by Badlands Motor Speedway.

According to the release, Badlands Motor Speedway discontinued the services provided by Med-Star after last week’s Silver Shootout. In the release, Med-Star was accused of not showing up on time for the event and leaving early.

The release stated that an “onslaught of negativity,” as well as threatened boycotts by fans and race teams, occurred after Masur made an appearance on KELOLAND News on Wednesday in response to his firing. In turn, officials decided to suspend races for the rest of the 2017 season.

Badlands Motor Speedway also stated that the sale price of the facility was dropped to $7.5 million. It also said that tickets to future events would be refunded. Attempts to reach officials at Badlands Motor Speedway were unsuccessful.

  • To read the Badlands Motor Speedway press release, click here

“We have been in business 40 years, providing really good car and fire protection,” Masur said in a phone call with SprintCarUnlimited.com Thursday. “You don’t always see eye to eye, and we didn’t see eye to eye on a few things that were important.

“We showed up to the last race, did fire and ambulance protection, and left. I don’t know what the scuttle butt is about.”

Continued Masur, “Any owner of a business can fire anyone, anytime. We wished them the best, and the hope is they replace us with someone drivers are confident in.

“We weren’t late to any races. We left the races when they were over. So, I don’t know where all of those things are coming from. We do what we do at every other track. We were there for heat in the motors. In fact, we were standing in the pit area 10 minutes before the National Anthem.”

According to Masur, his crew arrived at 6:30 p.m. before motor starts and wasn’t let into the pit area until 6:45. As soon as the final checkered flag dropped, Med-Star packed up and left the facility.

Masur admitted that he used to show up during the afternoon hours, way before fans and cars arrived at the track. He also indicated that he, along with his crew, would hang around after the races to talk to drivers.

But, Med-Star wasn’t under contract to arrive at the races early or stay late. The company’s obligation, by contract, begins when motors fire and when the checkered flag falls on the event.

“For 40 years, I would show up at noon and had a blast, but that was because it was fun,” Masur said. “We had no contractual agreement for that, and now that it isn’t fun anymore, we don’t do it.

“It became a business. We were there for the races, and we left. After the races, we used to have a beer, but if something happened, we dialed 911. The ambulance always left after the races were over.

“We used to stick around, because we were friends with the racers. We had a beer or two, so we can’t touch anyone medically. If something happened, we called an ambulance, and it would be there in three minutes. To say we got up and left … part of that statement is true. But once the checkered flag fell, we had no more obligation to the track.”

According to drivers and teams contacted by SprintCarUnlimited.com, Jay Masur and Med-Star have gone above and beyond their duties over the years.

Drivers stated that Masur’s crew even performed duties to keep the show moving. Things like using four wheelers to push cars after they scaled, push drivers on the track, and other tasks not included in the contract.

As for the reputation of Masur and Med-Star, the drivers and teams continue to support the company.

“In my mind, it [the release] couldn’t be further from the truth,” said Dave Lunstra, who owns a Sprint Car driven by Tim Kaeding. “I don’t know, deep down, what the reason is, but Jay is not to blame.

“He showed up in a timely manner, did his job, and in the past, always went above and beyond. His one job is to assist during a crash and in any medical situation with drivers, crews and fans, and he did that.”

Continued Lunstra, “I don’t understand the accusations. I feel there is more to it, but that doesn’t matter. It is what it is.”

During Saturday’s Silver Shootout, a 305 Sprint Car got upside down. According to multiple reports, Masur’s crew was on scene within three seconds. There were two firetrucks in place within 10 to 15 seconds.

According to Masur and numerous reports from drivers who attended the race or have been at Badlands Motor Speedway in the past, that is the norm for a Med-Star crew.

“I’ve been with that track since 1976,” Masur said. “I’ve never had a complaint from any track I’ve been at.

“We go above and beyond all of the time. We show up with two firetrucks and 15-to-20 trained professionals. Obviously over 40 years, we’ve learned from our mistakes. We learn from them every day.

“We train for this. We take it seriously, and somehow, they blame me for shutting down the track. I, certainly, didn’t do that. They fired me, and I wished him good luck.”

Med-Star provides fire and ambulance services for tracks across the country. In 2017 alone, they are scheduled to work over 100 shows.

As for Masur’s reputation and that of his company, support has continued in the aftermath of his firing from Badlands Motor Speedway.

“Everything was in place before motors fired [last week]. I told them I was going to do this a month ago. It wasn’t a big surprise. That is why I don’t understand the big gap.

“I told them I’m not going to do anything extra. I said I would honor the six races that we said we were going to do this year. When all of this came up, it was as big a surprise to me as it was to anybody.

“Us being derelict in our duties, not a chance. I’m not going to give up 40 years of my life like that. We do this because we love it, and we made a difference in the life of a lot of people.”