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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