Horrific crash puts safety in spotlight for NASCAR

As the checkered flag flew at the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona global Speedway early Monday morning, a potentially deadly scene was brewing.

Now, imagine what happens if two cars get together at that speed. Think of your wife and family, and see if those are acceptable work conditions. “We can work at that, and then figure out a way to keep the cars on the ground”.

“I am … going to be really sore”.

“We’ll take this situation, we’ll learn from it, we’ll analyse it, and we’ll round up our engineering team and see if there’s any additional things we can learn to get better the next time“, he said.

Dillon got collected in the melee and was sent airborne.

“As safe as you try to make it, there’s always going to be an inherent danger for fans”, said Alan Cavanna with Fox Sports. “You go out there and hold it wide open to the end”.

“It’s ‘checkers or wreckers, ‘ ” he said. The aftermath of the wreck saw Dillon’s vehicle literally torn in half with the engine sitting on the infield grass.

Wheeler, ex- head of Charlotte Motor Speedway, said even with glass it won’t distract from the speed and vibrations if you are close. “Its swishing around in there and the belts are loosening with each hit.

WJHL – Many thought it was the big one.

Speeds are higher without restrictor plates but there is better spacing, giving drivers at least an opportunity to react when something goes wrong. Earnhardt Jr. watched the crash in his rear-view mirror.

But fans don’t accept that risk when they come to the track and Dillon’s crash at Daytona last weekend (or should I say Monday?) is more proof that things need to be changed at NASCAR’s largest ovals. “You don’t want to see anybody get hurt. It’s an bad feeling”. Thirteen fans who were in proximity to crash debris from the catchfence were also checked for injuries at the scene. Johnson ended up second, with Hamlin third – as he was spinning across the finish line after getting a push from Kevin Harvick.

Five specatators were injured and champion driver Jimmie Johnson said he was surprised Dillon survived his auto being lifted into the air and onto a catch fence surrounding the track.

Eerily similar to what Dillon said Monday morning. The fence was twisted and mangled.

Speedway officials said they’re looking at ways to improve the barrier that kept Dillon’s vehicle on the track, but shredded it into pieces, injuring 13 fans, sending one to the hospital. – Jeff Gordon’s final run at Daytona was something he’ll never forget.

Amazingly, as crew members were rushing to the aid of Dillon, he was able to exit the vehicle and give the crowd a wave, Road And Track reports. This time, it wasn’t good enough against Earnhardt, his Hendrick Motorsports teammate. “A brilliant job of catching a 3,500 pound projectile and dumping it back on the race track”, said Daly.