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Updated: ISC, SMI Planning Track Safety Upgrades
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The International Speedway Corporation is planning a series of safety initiatives in response to the incident that injured NASCAR competitor Kyle Busch at Daytona International Speedway earlier this year.
Busch was injured during the NASCAR XFINITY Series season opener when he was involved in a multi-car crash. His car impacted a retaining wall on the inside of the track just before turn one. The wall did not feature a SAFER barrier, a trademark safety feature at a majority of NASCAR venues.
Busch suffered a broken lower right leg as well as a broken left foot in the crash. He is expected to be sidelined for several months. ISC has announced plans to develop a new plan for installation of SAFER barriers at both Daytona and Alabama’s Talladega Superspeedway.
“Beginning with our two superspeedway motorsports entertainment facilities, Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, ISC is developing a significant plan for the installation of additional impact-absorbing technologies including but not limited to SAFER barriers (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction),” said ISC President John Saunders. “We will utilize all available tools to ensure the safety of the drivers and our fans. It will remain our top priority.
“A thorough review of our other ISC facilities will continue with the focus to prioritize each track’s most critical areas first. This includes but is not limited to our upcoming races at Phoenix International Raceway and Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. ISC is working very closely with NASCAR and industry experts to identify areas for additional safety protections. As we finalize our plans, we will communicate them to the drivers and necessary stakeholders ahead of our races at each ISC facility.”
In addition, Speedway Motorsports Inc. recently announced it is joining counterpart ISC to further enhance safety features at its race tracks. According to published reports in the Charlotte Observer, SMI CEO Marcus Smith said changes are planned for several of the company’s tracks, including Las Vegas Motor Speedway, as well as tracks in Charlotte, New Hampshire and Kentucky.
“With Kyle’s accident in Daytona, it’s caused us to look twice at everything and we’re working with NASCAR to see what else there is out there and I expect there will be more additions to SAFER barriers,” Smith said.
Meantime, NASCAR executive vice president and chief development officer Steve O’Donnell said NASCAR has dispatched staff members to the West Coast, where the circuit is headed for races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway and Auto Club Speedway.
“We’ll employ temporary solutions anywhere we can (with) SAFER everywhere it’s feasible,” he said. “Obviously there are places that presents a challenge, but that’s the highest priority. We have follow-up meetings with all of the ISC tracks. We talked with Marcus Smith (president of Speedway Motorsports Inc., which owns Atlanta and six more Cup tracks), and they know the urgency.”
Busch was injured during the NASCAR XFINITY Series season opener when he was involved in a multi-car crash. His car impacted a retaining wall on the inside of the track just before turn one. The wall did not feature a SAFER barrier, a trademark safety feature at a majority of NASCAR venues.
Busch suffered a broken lower right leg as well as a broken left foot in the crash. He is expected to be sidelined for several months. ISC has announced plans to develop a new plan for installation of SAFER barriers at both Daytona and Alabama’s Talladega Superspeedway.
“Beginning with our two superspeedway motorsports entertainment facilities, Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, ISC is developing a significant plan for the installation of additional impact-absorbing technologies including but not limited to SAFER barriers (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction),” said ISC President John Saunders. “We will utilize all available tools to ensure the safety of the drivers and our fans. It will remain our top priority.
“A thorough review of our other ISC facilities will continue with the focus to prioritize each track’s most critical areas first. This includes but is not limited to our upcoming races at Phoenix International Raceway and Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. ISC is working very closely with NASCAR and industry experts to identify areas for additional safety protections. As we finalize our plans, we will communicate them to the drivers and necessary stakeholders ahead of our races at each ISC facility.”
In addition, Speedway Motorsports Inc. recently announced it is joining counterpart ISC to further enhance safety features at its race tracks. According to published reports in the Charlotte Observer, SMI CEO Marcus Smith said changes are planned for several of the company’s tracks, including Las Vegas Motor Speedway, as well as tracks in Charlotte, New Hampshire and Kentucky.
“With Kyle’s accident in Daytona, it’s caused us to look twice at everything and we’re working with NASCAR to see what else there is out there and I expect there will be more additions to SAFER barriers,” Smith said.
Meantime, NASCAR executive vice president and chief development officer Steve O’Donnell said NASCAR has dispatched staff members to the West Coast, where the circuit is headed for races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway and Auto Club Speedway.
“We’ll employ temporary solutions anywhere we can (with) SAFER everywhere it’s feasible,” he said. “Obviously there are places that presents a challenge, but that’s the highest priority. We have follow-up meetings with all of the ISC tracks. We talked with Marcus Smith (president of Speedway Motorsports Inc., which owns Atlanta and six more Cup tracks), and they know the urgency.”
