Ryan Newman’s wreck on Sunday at Talladega is a good reminder, especially to short track racers, that they should not discount the safety features available to them. Doesn’t matter if you are in a 4-cylinder car or a super later model.
The biggest reason that Newman was able to walk away from that wreck was because his car was constructed very well with safety in mind. I think everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they peeled back the roof of his car and he was able to step out, brush the dirt and grass off of himself and walk into the ambulance.
So, why I am saying that this is a good reminder to the short tracks? Because it doesn’t matter how fast you go, you are still participating in a dangerous sport. A lack of having the best safety equipment should not be discounted.
I have seen 4-cylinder cars roll over like a toy car when a little kid plays with them. These are basic cars and yes their rollovers are slow, but the roof needs to be reinforced and it wouldn’t hurt for a driver to have a seat that will protect them as well.
Some have questioned whether or not a head and neck restraint is really a necessity in short track racing. The good news is that I am seeing a lot of HANS devices and other head and neck restraints around the local tracks.
Last month, I saw probably one of the hardest hits I have seen a limited late model take at a quarter-mile track. The driver was able to walk away but did have some injuries. Many close to this driver said that when he was at the hospital, the doctor said that with them wearing the HANS device it saved his life with the kind of impact that this driver had with the wall.
At the same time, it shouldn’t hurt for a driver to look at personal accident insurance or become a member of a sanctioning body that offers it. This also goes for pit crew members as well. Don’t always rely on your own health insurance or the track’s insurance to cover all of your expenses. In fact, some health insurance plans excludes injuries received while racing. I may not hurt for each of you to investigate that and get the right protection needed.
Yes, the economy is tough right now and we are all looking for ways to cut costs here and there and safety, in my opinion, is not one area that you want to look at trimming the cost.
The big debate around the United States currently is health care and the rising cost of it. Getting injured and not having the right coverage in place could cost you a lot more then it would if you put the right safety features in your car and have the right insurance coverage in place.
You need to look at the whole picture.
Yes, there are some fans who go to the races to see the wrecks. But when they see a real bad wreck, their excitement of seeing it quickly turns into a concern for the driver in the car. Its a great testament to this sport when a driver can walk away.
I appreciate those tracks and series that will not allow a car on the track until a safety inspection is completed. The track inspectors should not overlook anything. If the helmet is not current, tell them to get a new one. If the seatbelts look old tell them to get new ones in. The same with firesuits and everything else. At the same time, don’t attempt to go with a lighter tube chassis just to save some weight.
It simply comes down to common sense. We want you to be safe in your car and race for a long time. Discounting safety is like discounting your own life. It’s a valuable thing and you should have the best safety equipment to protect it.
