The Facts About Crashes in NASCAR

When you watch a NASCAR event, you are fully aware that there is the possibility of a crash. In fact, there is a strong possibility of at least one serious crash taking place in each and every race. Some racetracks are known for their tendency to produce potentially fatal crashes in each race it hosts. While some people are taken aback by this, others revel in the opportunity to witness such carnage.

As has always been the case in auto racing of any sort, there are a significant number of fans who are in it for the crashes. They thrill to the speed and the crashes and near-crashes; it's a drama which keeps them on the edge of their seats. However, crashes aren't actually a good thing for NASCAR's popularity over the long run - crashes can and have lead to the deaths of drivers and even fans.

The last decade has seen NASCAR putting a number of safety measures into place designed to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities resulting from the sport. The impetus for these safety procedures was the death of Dale Earnhardt, the biggest name in the sport at that time. It was this tragedy which spurred the organization to make new and improved head and neck stabilizers mandatory equipment for drivers, increase the padding used on the walls of courses and even redesign the cars used in NASCAR racing to be safer.

However the car itself being redesigned has created more problems as well. Drivers who spent their life learning the subtleties of one kind of car now have to forget those and learn a completely new set of tactics. At the speeds these cars reach and on the crowded tracks they race on, reactions have to be instantaneous and even the smallest of movements or changes in the aerodynamics of the car can produce serious changes in outcome.

While the safety measures that the organization now requires are a welcome development which has certainly saved lives, NASCAR still has a way to go to minimize the risk to drivers and spectators at their events. Many NASCAR drivers have voiced the opinion that it's only a matter of time until there are more deaths of drivers or fans; and that the organization should take action before tragedy strikes rather than in response to such a disaster.

A recent NASCAR race was the scene of an extremely close call when a car flipped and slammed into the fence separating the track from the stands. While the fence stood up to the impact (although just barely), flying debris from the crash caused several injuries to spectators. Thankfully none of these injuries were life-threatening, but this came very close to being another tragic day for the sport.

None of these incidents have done much, if anything to make NASCAR racing less popular. Fans still eagerly line up to see every race (and some to be close to the crashes). However, NASCAR would be well advised to implement additional safety measures - there have already been some narrow escapes and one catastrophic event could be all it takes to plunge the sport into a decline from which it may not recover. Some NASCAR fans may love to see a crash; but drivers and fans shouldn't have to risk injury or death to give these fans what they love.