Safety in NASCAR
Safety in NASCAR has evolved into one of the biggest concerns in stock car racing's largest sanctioning body.
Mainly after the death of Dale Earnhardt, a seven-time Winston Cup Series champion, NASCAR has decided to change all of their safety policies, such as the use of the HANS device.
NASCAR's safety policy includes the racing fire suit, carbon fiber seating, and roof flaps.
[5] The NASCAR Xfinity Series also introduced a new generation car in 2011 (trialed partially in 2010), featuring the same safety improvements.
[10] Further safety concerns with the Next Gen have arisen following an increased frequency of airborne flips, known as blowovers, in the Cup series.
Following Corey LaJoie's flip at Michigan in 2024, NASCAR mandated the inclusion of a second shark fin on the right side of the rear window to increase lift off speeds reportedly by 20%.
However, despite the wind tunnel data showing significant improvement, Michael McDowell and Josh Berry both got airborne at the following race at Daytona; Berry specifically going completely over and heavily impacting the inside wall in a manner quite similar to LaJoie's flip the prior Monday.
The Next Gen had gotten airborne 4 other time previously, when Harrison Burton flipped in the car's inaugural Daytona 500(2022), Chase Briscoe nearly going over in following Daytona race that summer, Ryan Preece's violent 10 revolution flip in the 2023 summer race, and Brad Keselowski's car lifting up following a crash at Dega later that fall.
This provides some support during a crash, spreading the load out over the entire rib cage instead of letting it concentrate in a smaller area.
[12] After a string of fatal accidents involving skull fractures, NASCAR has made it mandatory for drivers to wear the HANS device, which reduces the risk of head and neck injuries in the event of a crash.
Unrestricted Sprint Cup cars produce over 750 horsepower (560 kW) and can run at speeds in excess of 200 mph (320 km/h).
However, an unexpected consequence of the introduction of the Car of Tomorrow and re-paving of Daytona and Talladega track surfaces has been the separation of the pack into two-car pairs.
As a result, races at Daytona and Talladega using this tapered spacer, tuned for 550 horsepower, saw speeds well in excess of 200 miles per hour.
This correlated with an increased frequency for the cars to get airborne until Ryan Newman suffered an extremely serious crash on the final lap of the 2020 Daytona 500.
Despite these changes drivers continued to crash violently and, following Joey Logano's flip in the 2021 Geico 500 at Talladega, lead to further reduction in the size of the spacer for the final two plate races of the Generation 6 car.
Due to drag and racing quality concerns, NASCAR increased the spacer size for 510 horsepower with the introduction of the Next Gen car in hopes of promoting passing.
Following Rusty Wallace's crashes at Daytona and Talladega, Penske Racing designed the original roof flaps.
[19] NASCAR team owner Jack Roush helped improve on the design of the roof flaps, in conjunction with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona, Florida.
[20] During spins, as a result of accidents or loss of handling, as the car rotates it eventually reaches an angle where the oncoming air reacts with the profile of the vehicle in the same manner as a wing.
As a car is turned around and reaches an angle where significant lift occurs, the low pressure above the flaps causes them to deploy.
Some SAFER barriers were installed in 2003 at Richmond, and Homestead–Miami, others in 2004 at Talladega, Daytona (July, before the 2004 Pepsi 400) and other tracks, in 2005 at Dover and at Watkins Glen in 2010.
While it is not required yet, it is recommended that tire changers wear safety glasses to prevent eye injuries from lug nuts thrown off the car and fuel spills.
NASCAR requires spotters at all times a car is on the track, including series in practice, qualifying, and the race.
