In the world of NASCAR, bumps and crashes are just part of the game. It’s a mixed bag – some drivers, like Ryan Preece in his last race at Daytona, walk away without a scratch even after their cars do dramatic flips. But then, there are those heart-stopping moments that remind us of the risks, like the tragic accident of Dale Earnhardt Sr.

That’s exactly why NASCAR has been doubling down on safety. They’re not just thinking about the drivers; they’re keeping an eye out for the fans too. Just recently, Kenny Wallace shed some light on this. He reshared a video that gave a peek inside and outside the car during a crash.

Kenny Wallace shares the footage of drivers inside the car, in case of a wreck

Let’s take a trip down memory lane: it’s been over ten years without a single tragedy in NASCAR’s big three – Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Camping World Truck. This safety streak started after Dale Earnhardt’s heart-wrenching accident at Daytona back in 2001. NASCAR didn’t just sit back; they rolled up their sleeves and got to work, even opening a fancy research and development center near Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2002.

The changes since then? NASCAR’s talking top-notch helmets, seatbelts that could hold a bull, fire extinguishers ready to go, smarter cars, and the biggie: head and neck restraints.

So, back to Kenny Wallace’s tweet. He shared this video that takes everyone right into the driver’s seat during a wreck. The car goes flying, but inside- the drivers seemed quite calm, strapped in and feeling every jolt. Kenny’s caption on the video read- “And THIS is why we wear helmets and seatbelts and have a great seat 😳.”

And he’s spot on. In NASCAR, helmets aren’t just a fashion statement with all the cool designs; they’re a lifeline. They’ve got to meet the tough standards set by the big bosses at NASCAR. Snell SA2015 or SA2020-approved helmets are mandatory for drivers to wear while driving on the track.

Then comes the seatbelts- Seatbelts in NASCAR aren’t your average car buckles. They’re more like a bear hug that keeps the drivers in place during those wild rides. They spread out the crash force, and they’re the best shot at staying inside the car if things go sideways. Talking about the seats- NASCAR has moved from aluminum to carbon fiber. These seats tend to hug drivers tighter than the normal ones, especially around the ribs and shoulders, taking safety to the next level.

Yet, it’s not just all about what’s inside the car. NASCAR is also pulling out all the stops on the tracks, always thinking of new ways to keep cars and drivers out of harm’s way.

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Ryan Blaney’s crash has been a wake-up call for NASCAR; Lincoln Speedway is taking a tech-savvy approach to protect their officials

Rewind to the 2023 Cup, where Ryan Blaney‘s race at Nashville Superspeedway came to a screeching stop. It was lap 146, and out of the blue, he got a little nudge from behind, lost control, and hit the wall near the pit road exit. This wall, bare of any padding, didn’t do him any favors, leaving Blaney with concussion-like symptoms.

Catching up with the latest scoop from NBC Sports, reporter Dustin Long spilled the beans recently: NASCAR’s putting their foot down on safety. They’re covering the concrete wall inside Turn 1 at Nashville with tire packs.

Switching gears to Lincoln Speedway, they’re thinking about hanging up the old flagman system and going for something more 21st century – a virtual flagman. Jerry Parrish, one of the top dogs at the speedway, explained the reason behind that- “The safety of the drivers and officials is our number one priority, and putting this system in place continues our efforts towards that goal.”

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