LOUDON — A couple from Belmont made an emergency stop at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway Friday afternoon — to deliver a baby.

“They made the ultimate pit stop,” said Jerry Gappens, the executive vice president and general manager at the speedway.

The couple, whose names were not known to raceway officials, arrived in the parking lot at about 3:30 p.m.

The soon-to-be father said he needed help because his wife was pregnant and about to give birth in their car, said Tom Blanchette, the track's director of operations.

Blanchette, who was a professional EMT in Lancaster earlier in his career, rushed to help the couple. He has delivered babies and was prepared to help deliver another one, and the track's EMTs were ready to assist as well.

“But when I got there the father and mother had done all the work already,” he said. “They did a great job.”

Once the baby was delivered, Blanchette followed the couple to Concord Hospital. When he left the couple, all was well, he said.

“They're just fine,” he said.

The speedway was busy preparing for race week leading up to the Sylvania 300 next weekend.

“It's a nice way to start race week, with a little miracle at our doorstep,” said Kristen Costa, the speedway's director of communications.
dseufert@newstote.com