Nascar Crashes

Crashes are something which can happen at any NASCAR event; or for that matter, in any auto racing event. However, NASCAR is famous for crashes and at least one crash per race is not unheard of. Some tracks are particularly notorious for being the site of serious, even possibly fatal crashes, with such incidents occurring in nearly every event held at the venue. Some people find the high probability of serious crashes to be off-putting, while for others it is one of the biggest draws of NASCAR racing.
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.
NASCAR has been working to implement safety protocols over the last ten to fifteen years which aim to make the sport safer and reduce the incidence of injuries and deaths. The organization was spurred to put these measures into place due to a tragedy at the Daytona 500; namely, the death of NASCAR's biggest star Dale Earnhardt. Following his untimely death, NASCAR began to add more padding to the walls of racetracks, stipulate certain safety features be added into the design of vehicles used in NASCAR racing and require drivers to use improved head and neck stabilization technologies.
Of course, change rarely comes without some unintended consequences and in the case of the required redesign of racing vehicles; this has been a learning curve for drivers. Many of the drivers who compete in NASCAR events have spent their entire careers with one type of car and must now adapt to the new designs. Given the speeds at which NASCAR drivers must negotiate very crowded racetracks, the penalty for a wrong move can be extremely high.
This is not to say that the added safety requirements put into place by NASCAR were not necessary; they were and are needed. However, there is still much work to be done to make the sport a safer one for drivers and spectators alike. Some drivers have opined that while improvements have been made, there are still many tragedies waiting to happen at many NASCAR racetracks and that the organization should take a proactive stance rather than waiting for another death before taking action.
At one recent event, a car flipped and flew into the fence which separated the spectators from the track itself. Fortunately the car did not breach the fence and there were no fatalities, but flying debris did cause many minor injuries in the stands. It was an incredibly close call; one which came very close to being a catastrophe.
Despite deaths, injuries and countless close calls, NASCAR racing is as popular as ever, with races regularly sold out - and many fans crowding to the front so as not to miss any crashes. NASCAR should act now to make their races as safe as humanly possible for both competitors and spectators; before more lives are lost, not after. Even though there are those NASCAR fans that live for the crashes, no one should have to die for the sake of an entertaining spectacle. One disaster could deal a blow to the sport which it could take a long time to recover from; if indeed it could come back from another serious tragedy.

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Nascar and Drug Use In The Sport

Drugs In NASCAR Racing

When examining other major sports, it seems that NASCAR has been spared the worst of the serious drug use controversies. The most notable driver to be suspended due to a failed drug test was 13-time race winner Tim Richmond in 1988.

He became a part of Hendrick Motorsports and was well on the way to reaching superstar status, regularly appearing on the nascar schedule. In the aftermath, Richmond denied any drug use and it was later discovered that medications taken for cold symptoms were the cause of the positive testing.

Regardless, NASCAR officials no longer wanted Richmond in the sport. He was losing weight due to an illness, but unbeknownst to NASCAR, Richmond was dying of AIDS. From NASCAR's perspective, the weight loss and subsequent health problems must be the result of drugs; rumors in the Cup garage supported this assumption.

Richmond passed away in 1989 from AIDS-related complications.

Since Tim Richmond's unceremonious removal from the sport two decades ago, very few drivers have faced the wrath of NASCAR because of illegal substances. Shane Hmiel, Kevin Grubb, Tyler Walker, and Aaron Fike have been suspended in recent years. Grubb and Hmiel received lifetime bans after failing drug screenings following reinstatements from a previous suspension due to drugs.

Hmiel is the son of Steve Hmiel, a long-time mechanic who has worked for companies such as Roush Racing, Dale Earnhardt Inc., and Chip Ganassi Racing in recent years. Hmiel was a racer with serious talent and many described him as one of the more talented rookie drivers of the last decade, but his substance abuse issues were the undoing of his promising driving career.

Grubb was another hot young racer back in the late 1990s. He enjoyed moderate success in the Busch, now Nationwide Series before failing a drug test in 2003. Grubb was reinstated in 2006, and suspended again in 2007. Grubb committed suicide in May 2009, drying of gunshot wound to the head.

The driver Tyler Walker, suspended in 2006 for failing his drug test, is also friends with Spring Cup Series driver, Kasey Kahne. Tyler has yet to file for NASCAR reinstatement.

For Aaron Fike, NASCAR suspension only came after a theme park arrest for heroin possession. While being interviewed by ESPN 'The Magazine,' he admitted to heroin use on the day of a race. Needless to say, the Fike interview was a shocking blow to NASCAR.

Until this latest racing season, NASCAR officials had reserved drug testing for those drivers under suspicion for illicit drug abuse. Now, it is official policy for NASCAR to issue random screenings for both drivers and crewmembers during the course of the season using Aegis Science Corp. Labs, and overseen by Dr. David Black.

Several crewmembers were recently suspended for testing positive for illegal drugs.
Jeremy Mayfield, another big name in NASCAR has been put on indefinite suspension following a positive testing for drugs back on May 9 at Darlington Raceway.

Mayfield's claim is that the positive result is due to a combination of Claritin-D, an allergy medication, and a legally prescribed medication. Nonetheless, NASCAR officials as well as Dr. Black have publically ruled against Mayfield in the matter.
Mayfield is standing by his innocence, and has hired a lawyer, Bill Diehl. There appears to be a legal suit in NASCAR's very near future.

Although NASCAR has not revealed the supposed substance, and Mayfield was totally ignorant of this illegal substance until recently. He and his lawyer received reports earlier in the week.

Essentially, it comes down as Mayfield's word against theirs, and the case will probably be resolved outside of court. This latest event has many turning a critical eye towards NASCAR. Still, there isn't necessarily any reason for concern for the nascar schedule.

The coverage of Mayfield's legal protests have sidetracked many notable events coming out of NASCAR that could mean some good press for a change. Much of this is about the fact that drug issues are still a rarer thing in NASCAR than they are in the NBA, NFL, MLB, or the NHL.

The random drug screening process is an improvement from the screening only on reasonable suspicion approach. The real flaw in this new approach is that NASCAR hasn't given out a list of substances it has banned to the public. NASCAR wants to be in control of what is and isn't acceptable. With information like the banned substance list in their hands, both crewmembers and drivers would know what is acceptable and what is not.

As with other professional sports, drug use is prohibited by NASCAR.

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How NASCAR Became a Major American "Sport"

NASCAR, or the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, is known as the largest motorsports sanctioning body in the United States. The three series under the auspices of NASCAR include the Craftsman Truck Series, the Nationwide Series and the Sprint Cup. Some local races such as the Whelen Modified Tour and the All-American Series from Whelen are overseen by NASCAR. Overall, 1500 races at 100 tracks are considered NASCAR races.

Originally, NASCAR was viewed as a regional sport coming from the Southeastern United States, but today it ranks second only to football in television rating in the U.S. In addition to broadcasts in the United States, races by NASCAR drivers are shown in 150 countries globally. Fans show support of the sport by purchasing licensed products in the amount of $3 billion annually. Fortune 500 companies recognize the power of NASCAR fans and sponsor the sports more than any other sponsorship role.

The headquarters of NASCAR is at Daytona Beach, Florida. There are four local offices in North Carolina and regional offices in Arkansas, New York City and Los Angeles. Mexico City and Toronto Canada also have NASCAR offices. Additionally, most NASCAR teams consider North Carolina home.

Originally, Daytona Beach was the location where world land speed records were set with eight consecutive records between 1927 and 1935. The Daytona Beach road course was the site of fifteen speed records before 1935. As the location for land speed records moved to Bonneville Salt Flats, Daytona Beach was already synonymous with fast cars both on the beach and on the coastal highway A1A.

The years of Prohibition followed by the repeal in 1933 made use of fast cars with modified capacity driven at high speeds either to evade the police or later the revenuers. Much of this activity occurred near Wilkes County region of North Carolina, but also in other parts of the Southeastern United States. Races of the modified cars increased in numbers and popularity during those years.

Three people were primary in the creation of the NASCAR governing body in 1948: William France, Sr., Erwin 'Cannonball' Baker, and Bob 'Barky' Barkhimer. William France wanted to protect the drivers from unscrupulous promoters who collected gate receipts and did not award winning to the drivers. The first intent was to race Roadsters, Modified, and Stock cars. Only the Modified division raced during the first year. The first season had 52 Modified dirt track races. By 1949, the Strictly Stock division made its debut

Originally, the cars raced had to be virtually factory models, but beginning in 1950 it was recognized that modifications for safety and performance were desirable and the Division was named 'Grand National’. By the mid 1960s, the races were run with race cars and a stock body.

Only one of the original season race tracks is still on the circuit today-Martinsville Speedway. The Darlington Raceway and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are both recognized world wide for their famous events in the world of NASCAR racing. Originally, the race tracks were oval and measured 0.5 to 1 miles per lap. Darlington was 1.366 miles and known as a Superspeedway following its construction in 1950. The track was wider and faster than other locales. In 1959 the Daytona International Speedway at 2.5 miles became the sport icon.

During the early 1970's new sponsorship was found for the sport in the RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company. The name of the series was changed from Grand National to the Winston Cup. The series today is known as the Sprint Cup. Prizes were increased significantly and a new points system was developed. The series dropped from 48 races during the season to 31 races. Busch Beer took on the sponsorship of the next competitive level of racers, known as the Late Model Sportsman.

ABC Sports began covering some of the Grand National races but abandoned the effort as not exciting enough for ratings. In 1979, the Daytona 500 race was picked up from flag to flag by CBS. During the final lap, the two leaders wrecked on the backstretch and the third place car driven by Richard Petty won the race. The two wrecked car drivers and a family member proceeded to add to the drama on national television by engaging in a fistfight. Fans that had been kept indoors by a major snowstorm on the U.S. eastern seaboard were introduced to the excitement and drama of the sport.

Changes in the point structure awarded to drivers and teams has also helped to maintain the excitement of the series ever since.

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Grant Eckert is a freelance writer who writes about sports and leisure activities, similar to what consumers read in Sporting News | Sporting News Magazine

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Stop Guessing-What A NASCAR Fan Really Wants!

Gift Ideas For That Special NASCAR Fan

Are you looking for a gift for a NASCAR fan? Whether that
gift is intended to be a Christmas present, a birthday
present, or a just because gift, you may want to think
outside of the box. If you stop and think about it, how many
NASCAR ball caps or t-shirts does that person really need?
If you are looking to purchase unique NASCAR gifts for a
friend or family member, checkout some of the great items
outlined below.

An outdoor patio set with a NASCAR theme is a great, yet
unique gift idea. With regards to its cost, this would be a
great gift for immediate family members like a husband,
wife, boyfriend, girlfriend or children that enjoy the
sport. Outdoor patio sets consist of table, chairs and
umbrella in the colors of the driver's car, the driver's
name and the sponsor's name. This type of NASCAR gift is
great for fans who like to host backyard barbecues or
outdoor race parties.

For the NASCAR fan that is unique and not afraid to show it,
NASCAR themed canopy sets make a great gift. Most NASCAR
themed canopy sets will have lawn chairs included with the
package, but be sure to check what is included. The set is
usually in the car's colors, with the sponsor's logo, the
driver's name and the car number.

NASCAR themed bar-b-que tool sets are another great, yet
unique gift idea for NASCAR fans. Most have a driver’s
number printed on the set somewhere, like on the handle.
Many specialty NASCAR themed bar-b-que tool sets often come
with matching storage cases or bags. A NASCAR themed
bar-b-que tool set is a great, yet affordable, gift idea for
those who love hosting outdoor barbecues or outdoor get
togethers on race day. If you are on a budget this is a
great idea for that backyard cook.

Returning back to large and expensive NASCAR gifts that are
ideal for close relatives, compact fridges should be
examined. Most are outfitted with a driver theme, which may
include a picture of a NASCAR driver, like Jimmy Johnson or
Tony Stewart, the car number, as well as the car colors.
These compact fridges are perfect for family rooms or
entertainment rooms. They are also perfect for NASCAR
parties, as you never have to leave the room to get a cold
drink or snack.

NASCAR themed keys are a unique gift for NASCAR fans that
are relatively affordable in price. The uniqueness comes
from not being the everyday keychain. While the
{selection|variety you will find available will vary, most
retailers have keys that are designed to fit most standard
house locks available for sale. The lucky person receiving
this gift will need to take the blank to the local hardware
store or home improvement center, wher they will cut the
blank to fit the door lock.

NASCAR themed home appliances and kitchen furnishings also
make great gift ideas, but they are still unique at the same
time. The most popular item is that of a NASCAR themed
crock-pot. Tony Stewart crock-pots are highly sought after.
The snack helmet is also a great seller. Basically, the
snack bowl is an overturned helmet shaped bowl where snacks
are placed and is a perfect touch for parties on the road,
in your living room or the backyard.

As for children, a great gift idea for toddlers,
preschoolers, and elementary school aged children are driver
teddy bears, infant socks, Tees, bucket hats kids car shades
or neck rolls. There are also, 2 piece sweat sets, PJ sets,
board games, race sets and radio contol cars.

In addition to unique NASCAR gifts for people, did you know
that you can also purchase NASCAR gifts for your pet? Many
specialty stores and catalogs carry pet toys, leashes,
collars, and pet beds that have a NASCAR theme. Can you say,
I love to spoil my pet!

As highlighted above, you have a number of different
options, when looking to buy a unique NASCAR gift for a
close friend or relative or even a pet! Additionally there
are pajamas,sweat shirts, sweatpants, calendars, jackets,
knit beanie hats, belts, wallets, coffee mugs, weekly
planners, posters, pin sets, race track legal coolers, dvds,
jewelry,chairs, backpacks, duffel bags and the list goes on.
It may surprise you what is available on line, through
catalogs or found in specialty stores.