Why The 2001 Daytona 500 Was So Important
The 2001 Daytona 500 was very eventful. Taking place at the iconic Dayton Motor Speedway, which is a 2.5 file mile asphalt track in mid February. Michael Waltrip, driving in his first race for Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, won the race on the final lap. This was his first win in the Winston Cup Series and it came after 462 winless races. His teammate, Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second while Rusty Wallace finished third. Dale Earnhardt Jr. helped his teammate win the race by blocking the challenger as they tried to make a pass for the win. The broadcast team for the race included Darrel Waltrip, Michael’s older brother, who could barely contain his excitement watching his brother win his first Winston Cup race and Daytona 500 all in one.
The joy of the win was short lived for Waltrip and Earnhardt Jr., as they finished the race tragedy was occurring on the back stretch. Dale Earnhardt Sr. was involved in a crash that included other drivers Ken Shrader and Sterling Marlin. Dale’s car was sent careening into the barrier killing him instantly. As the safety crew arrived on the screen they sent for Dale Jr. as they knew his father had not survived this cash.
The Daytona Motor Speedway is known as a super speedway due to the fast speeds that cars can reach while racing on the track. After the death of Dale Sr. on that fateful day, NASCAR implemented new safety measures to try to reduce the number of serious deaths and injuries that had been common for many years in NASCAR racing.
Some of the safety measures included the Safer Barrier which is about a 30 inch combination of steel and foam added to the concrete wall of the track that absorbs some of the force of the impact much like crumple zones in cars. They have foam triangles that lessen the shock of any crash on the drivers bodies. They also required drivers to wear the HANS (Head Neck Support) device. The HANS device is connected to the shoulder straps of the seatbelt, keeping the driver's head from violently whipping from side to side when in an accident. While many drivers in the early days of adoption complained about the change in requirements for the use of the HANS device it is now widely accepted that it saves lives.
Nascar has a long history of safety improvements that have yielded a much safer race for all involved. In 1947 when NASCAR was first organized in Daytona seatbelts were the first required safety measure. But these seatbelts were not the same as what is worn today, they were the standard issued seatbelts of the day meaning they only went across the lap and didn’t restrain the upper body at all. Some open wheeled racers thought wearing seatbelts was more dangerous as they felt that being thrown clear of the car was safer. As speeds increased so too did the danger, drivers soon wore what was equivalent to leather football helmets. The rudimentary safety features of early race cars have given way to the advanced safety features in modern race cars.
Modern race cars are a marvel in safety features. They have sophisticated role cages that surround the driver in a cocoon of steel. These role cages are larger and more protective of the driver than in the past. NASCAR has also mandated stroger roof structures to further protect the driver. In addition to the car safety features, the drivers use modern helmets and suits to protect themselves. The suits are fire resistant to prevent burns in the event of fire following a crash. And the helmets protect as part of the HANS device.
While tragedy struck on that fateful day many lessons were learned. NASCAR implemented many new safety features after the death of such a well loved driver and it brought the need for continued research into safety to the forefront of NASCAR. These safety features have lowered the risk for death or severe injury. While there will always be risk in driving a car at 200 miles per hour with 40 of your friends while trying to cross the finish line first, NASCAR is making a concerted effort to minimize the risks.