From a fan’s perspective, a race concludes with a checkered flag each Friday night at Brown County Speedway, Aberdeen. However, from a technical aspect, the winner is not officially determined until Dean Schaunaman says so.

Schaunaman has been the Tech Inspector at the local auto racing track since 1992.

While he has the final say on whether someone wins a race or not, Schaunaman never considers his job in powerful terms of judge and jury.

“I guess that’s right. I never think of it that way,” Schaunaman said. “I’ve got some guys that after we’re done teching, shake my hand and say thanks for being here. There’s a lot of guys out there that are glad to see you out there making sure they’re running against the right rules.”

Schaunaman, who has never been a race car driver, got involved in the sport when he was a pit crew member for his brother-in-law, Gary Daly.

When Daly stopped racing, Schaunaman missed his time in the pit area and wanted to stay more involved in racing.

“My brother-in-law used to race years ago and he retired. I got tired of sitting in the stands,” Schaunaman said. “Scott Daly started running the track and I asked him if he needed a tech guy and the rest is history. I’ve been here ever since.”

Schaunaman, who has been around cars nearly his entire life, studies on a regular basis to keep up with all the rules and regulations surrounding WISSOTA, the governing body for racing in the region.

“We’ve got six WISSOTA classes that I watch the rules on and they’ve got rules updates, almost weekly and things that you just have to keep an eye on,” Schaunaman said.

He said issues can range from small things to much bigger ones, some of which would automatically disqualify a driver well after the race is over.

Schaunaman said he doesn’t like disqualifying people, but that is just part of his job.

While nobody enjoys being told they are not the official race winner after finishing first, Schaunaman said that he has never felt physically afraid, but has been threatened with legal action.

“I’ve never feared for my safety,” he said. “I’ve had threats, but none of them bodily.”

Schaunaman said that most drivers understand the job he has to do and appreciate the fact that he helps to ensure that there is a level playing field.

He noted that does not happen at all tracks.

“I just had somebody that I went and checked in and they said, ‘Boy, I wish somebody like you would come up to our track and do that,’ Schaunaman said. “He said just show up once.”

Schaunaman is not only a tech inspector in Aberdeen, he serves the same role in Watertown on a weekly schedule, and also in Huron whenever it has races.

When informed he was in high demand, Schaunaman responded, “I don’t know about demand, but nobody else wants to do the job.”

Schaunaman understands the importance of his job and takes his role seriously. He wants to ensure that each competitor has a fair chance.

“We’re watching out for the racer, because it’s not just one or two guys they’ve got to worry about making a rule for,” Schaunaman said. “There’s like 600 cars or more in the Midwest Mod class so you’ve got to make sure that when you make a decision, it’s a good decision for the class.”

Schaunaman said his favorite part of the job is meeting people from all across the region.

“That’s the best part is the people,” he said. “We see people from all over, different states, Canada.”

While Schaunaman sees a variety of individuals, most people probably don’t see him on race nights. Schaunaman is tucked away in the pit area near the scales, doing one of the important jobs at the track.

It doesn’t bother him that he performs his duties in relative obscurity.

“I guess I don’t think about it,” Schaunaman said. “I’m just working trying to get through the end of the night. That’s my job.”

And he enforces the rules with total impartiality, no matter who the driver is.

For Schaunaman, personalities do not factor into the equation.

“I’m not out to get anybody. That’s the thing, all the people that I’ve met and all the people that I know, you kind of get some relationships built up, but it doesn’t matter who you are, if your car’s not right, I tell you and that’s the way it is,” Schaunaman said. “I don’t care who you are. Maybe I drink beer with you at bowling night or something, that doesn’t mean that he can do whatever he wants. The rules are the same for everybody.”

Racing is a family activity for the Schaunamans. His son announces at BCS and his wife and daughter are also regular attenders on Friday nights. That makes it easier for him to be involved at the track.

“If they weren’t into racing like that, I probably wouldn’t be able to do all I do,” Schaunaman said.

Now 61 years old, Schaunaman isn’t quite sure how much longer he’ll continue to be the tech inspector.

“Until I can find somebody,” Schaunaman said with a smile. “I’ve told them they can look.”

He said even if he were to step down from his position, he would likely find something else to do around the track on a regular basis.

“I’d find a way to be involved,” Schaunaman said.

In the meantime, Schaunaman will continue do to what he knows and enjoys at race tracks across the region.

While it can be a difficult task to be the judge of right and wrong, Schaunaman understands the potential consequences of the alternative.

“I would feel bad if there were people out there and they would just run without any regard for the rules,” Schaunaman said, “and if there’s nobody out here to reel them in, that’s what happens.”