About Danella

Danella Companies, Inc. provides a total turnkey solution for the most difficult projects, in the safest, most cost-effective, and efficient manner.

Danella provides construction and engineering services to major telephone, fiber, electric and gas utility companies throughout the United States. In addition, we are a leader in the truck and construction equipment rental industry, servicing primarily power/utility companies and railroads.

With over 38 years of experience, Danella sets the standard of excellence for full service contracting, dedicated to providing the highest quality services in a safe work environment. We have grown from one small utility contractor in 1972 to ten offices with 28 yards in 11 states, employing over 1,800 employees.

The NASCAR Project

Description

In 2004, a representative from Danella’s Engineering and Construction Services Division placed a call to Joseph W. Hemple, President of Danella Construction Corporation of Florida. “What would it cost to put a fiber optics ring on a race track?” Hemple remembers being asked. “As it turns out,” said Hemple, “we really didn't understand the scope of work NASCAR wanted until we finished the Daytona track, which was the first of many tracks we completed.”

Project Details

  • From 2004 to 2006, Danella installed fiber optics systems at NASCAR racetracks as the sub-contractor for a global wireless network solution provider that had contracted with NASCAR to provide the service. After Daytona, Danella installed the systems in racetracks in Atlanta, Charlotte and Michigan, all home to NASCAR, the National Association for Stock Car Racing.
  • The new fiber optics systems enabled NASCAR officials to monitor each car’s location on the track, as well as count laps and measure speed. In the case of an accident, the new tracking systems helped keep drivers from passing illegally while officials temporarily slowed down the race.
  • In each NASCAR location, Danella provided a turnkey installation for the system. The system is placed in a giant circle all around the track - either underground under the Grand Stands or hanging from iron beans around the Grand Stands. Working with the wireless provider and Danella’s own engineering team, the Florida Division determined the necessary capacity needs and installed switching gear, computerized counters and then successfully installed the fiber optics cables.
  • In addition to installing the fiber optics cables, Danella helped NASCAR increase its tower and signal transmission strength during races in Daytona, when racecar fans taxed the transmission capabilities by using telephones and listening to the race on the radio.

Unique Challenges

Each NASCAR project was different, and both the scope and the time required to complete the individual projects depended on the size of the tracks.

  • Michigan was the most challenging track to set up because it “had a lot of paving, black top and concrete,” said Hemple. “The other tracks, you could get off the paving and into sod.”
  • Hemple preferred to place the cables underground, but “we went aerial, underground, and hung cables on iron beams that held up the grandstands. We would send out a group of engineers, who would do a route analysis.”
  • Project time from start to finish varied; Michigan, due to snow and pavement, took over two months. “And you cannot get near the tracks when they are having the race,” said Hemple. “I think we had to close down for a month in Charlotte because they had different time trials out there and they were also testing tires. We were out there but not allowed to work.” For each job, the crews numbered between 12 to 14 people.

According to Hemple, the Florida Division has never replicated the fiber optics work that it did for NASCAR for any other client. But Hemple has built an elite construction group over time, which includes a throwback to the NASCAR project because it includes “a few fiber optics slicers who are just out of this world,” said Hemple. “They can splice in an eight hour day what would take others two days.” What makes them so good? “What makes an individual good at anything he does? He likes what he does. If you enjoy what you are doing and you are the best, you will be the leader of the pack.”

Division

DCC-FL

Industry

Telecommunications

Completion Date

2006

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