Bristol Motor Speedway has named five members of the Nashville Fire Department as its 2026 BMS Neighborhood Heroes for the Nashville region, recognizing their courage, technical expertise and teamwork during complex rescue operations.
Firefighter Brett Barnett, Engineer Andy Chapman and Capts. Jake Norman, Kyle Guess and Phillip Wade will be honored for their roles in a nighttime high-angle rescue at a Nashville rock quarry and the rescue of a skydiving student who remained suspended high in a tree for several hours. Those two extraordinary operations also exemplify the skill, commitment and teamwork these first responders bring to serving and protecting the Nashville community day in and day out.
Launched in 2018, the BMS Neighborhood Heroes program recognizes first responders, military members, educators, healthcare workers, athletes, community organizations and others who have gone above and beyond in service to their communities.
NASCAR star Daniel Suarez was on hand today in Nashville to assist BMS officials with recognizing these brave individuals. Suarez, a native of Monterrey, Mexico, drives the No. 7 Chevy for Spire Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series and is currently 13th in the NASCAR Chase for the Championship points standings. The two-time season winner will be competing in the crown jewel Bass Pro Shops Night Race, Saturday, Sept. 19 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
“We can never thank our first responders for the tremendously important jobs that they do,” Suarez said. “People talk about race car drivers being heroes for driving fast cars, but these gentlemen we are honoring today are the true heroes that our society needs and relies on day in and day out. This is a wonderful program that Bristol has developed to identify Neighborhood Heroes and I am truly grateful to meet these honorees and help with today’s announcement.”
All five honorees will receive commemorative BMS Neighborhood Heroes plaques and will be recognized on Colossus TV during pre-race festivities for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race. Bristol Motor Speedway also is providing lunch and race tickets to Nashville Fire Department’s Station 13 crew as part of the recognition.
“These five firefighters represent the very best of what our BMS Neighborhood Heroes program was created to celebrate,” said Jerry Caldwell, president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway. “The courage required to rappel hundreds of feet into a dark quarry or climb high into a tree to reach someone in danger is extraordinary, but these rescues also demanded tremendous preparation, trust and teamwork. Brett, Andy, Jake, Kyle and Phillip each brought critical skills and leadership to these operations, and we are proud to recognize them—and the entire Station 13 team—for their service to the Nashville community.”
During the nighttime quarry rescue, crews responded after an injured individual became stranded on a ledge approximately 300 feet below the top of the quarry. The difficult terrain forced responders to clear brush and trees, deploy hundreds of feet of rope and lower specialized equipment before the patient could be secured and brought safely to the top.
The second rescue followed a skydiving accident in which a student became entangled 50 to 60 feet above the ground and remained suspended for hours. Responders constructed a carefully engineered rope-and-pulley system, reached the student in the tree and safely assisted him to the ground.
Firefighter Brett Barnett — climbed the tree during the skydiving rescue to reach the stranded student, a demanding assignment requiring significant technical skill and precise execution.
Engineer Andy Chapman — was part of the team that rappelled into the quarry, placing him directly in a challenging environment as crews worked to reach and remove the patient.
Capt. Jake Norman — responded to both incidents and was instrumental in developing and rigging the rope systems that allowed rescuers to operate safely and effectively despite complex logistical challenges.
Capt. Kyle Guess — played key roles in both operations. He rappelled into the quarry to reach the injured individual and also contributed to the skydiving rescue.
Capt. Phillip Wade — was present for both incidents and helped coordinate the overall operations while maintaining a strong focus on responder and patient safety.
Past Nashville-area Neighborhood Heroes honorees have included Nashville Peacemakers founder Clemmie Greenlee, former Tennessee State football coach and community advocate Eddie George and the Nolensville Little League All-Star team.
In addition to celebrating Neighborhood Heroes, the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on Sept. 19 will feature a star-studded entertainment lineup, including Academy Award-winning actor and producer Brad Pitt as a Grand Marshal and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and two-time INDYCAR Series champion Josef Newgarden as the honorary pace car driver leading the NASCAR Cup Series field to green. Saturday’s festivities also will include appearances by WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, a pre-race concert by Brian Kelley, Bristol’s signature driver introductions featuring music personally selected by the competitors, a children’s choir performing the national anthem, and Lee Greenwood singing “God Bless the USA” as a bald eagle soars above the stadium, followed by a dramatic flyover featuring two U.S. Air Force C-130s. Fans also will receive yellow “Rowdy Towels” and unite for an emotional Lap 18 tribute honoring Kyle Busch and his unmatched success at Bristol—another powerful, only-at-Bristol moment before the NASCAR Cup Series’ biggest stars battle under the lights in one of America’s most iconic sporting events.
The Bass Pro Shops Night Race weekend, Sept. 17–19, will transform Bristol Motor Speedway and the surrounding Northeast Tennessee region into a three-day celebration of racing, music and unforgettable entertainment. Championship competition in all three of NASCAR’s national series begins Thursday with the Bush’s Beans 200 ARCA Menards Series race and the UNOH 250 presented by Ohio Logistics, which opens the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Chase, followed by Bristol’s popular Foam Party. Friday features Nobody Trashes Tennessee Qualifying, the Food City 300 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase race and a post-race concert featuring Tim Dugger. The weekend culminates Saturday night with the 500-lap, post-season Bass Pro Shops Night Race for the NASCAR Cup Series.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit BristolMotorSpeedway.com or call the BMS Ticket Sales Center at (866) 415-4158.
