NASCAR Must Put Fan Safety First
Safety at All Costs
If NASCAR does not put fan safety first there will be no NASCAR.
After Sunday’s Talladega race Carl Edwards asked the question “What if the car goes up in the grandstands and kills 25 people? Look, at some point they have to change this thing around.”
If that happens it will be a sad day. NASCAR can never let a car go over or through that fence. It would be a certain tragedy for the fans and their families sitting there, and the number would be more than 25.
It was extremely unfortunate that 8 race fans were injured when Carl Edwards No. 99 Ford got airborne and slammed into the catchfence at Talladega Sunday.
Fortunately none of the injuries were serious or life-threatening.
NASCAR promises it will put safety first.
Safety is Job 1
“Safety is, and always will be, NASCAR’s No. 1 priority,” said Jim Hunter, NASCAR’s Vice-president of Corporate Communications. “We are glad that each of the safety devices at Talladega yesterday worked properly, including the roof flaps and the catch fence. As most of you know, we are constantly evaluating safety initiatives.
“We are going to take whatever measures we need to in order to ensure the races are as safe as possible for everyone.”
Cost No Issue
When asked if NASCAR would do so regardless of cost Mr. Hunter simply replied “yes.”
According to fans sitting in the stands where the wreck happened there was a sign attached to the fence. Carl’s car hit the sign and knocked the sign into the stands. NASCAR won’t confirm that.
“I don’t believe it was a piece of the car,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR’s Vice-president of Competition, but it has not been confirmed; we won’t speculate on what it was.”
The catchfence did its job. The car didn’t go into the grandstands. But 8 injured people is unacceptable.
A tragedy like that would bring scrutiny NASCAR had never seen before. Sponsors and TV networks would shun NASCAR. Lawyers and vultures would start circling. Congress and the President would bring new regulation to the sport.
NASCAR must do everything within its power to assure fan safety and the safety of drivers, crew members and officials.
