NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR and tracks reviewing safety of walls at each facility

Published Feb. 24, 2015 6:00 p.m. ET

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Almost immediately after Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway, track president Joie Chitwood III and NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer Steve O'Donnell addressed the situation surrounding the lack of SAFER barriers around the entire speedway. 

During that event, Joe Gibbs Racing's Kyle Busch was involved in a multi-car incident with nine laps to go, and hit a section of concrete wall unprotected by any kind of SAFER barrier or tire barrier.

The high-speed, head-on impact resulted in Busch suffering a compound fracture of his lower right leg, and a mid-foot break of the left foot. Busch was immediately taken to Halifax Health Center in Daytona Beach where he underwent surgery on his right leg that evening. 

As Busch remains in a hospital — he was transported to one closer to his Charlotte home early Tuesday morning — NASCAR and the tracks are reevaluating the situation concerning walls and SAFER barriers.

Saturday night, Chitwood vowed to cover "every inch" of Daytona International Speedway with SAFER barriers, and prior to Sunday's Daytona 500, track workers installed tire barriers on the section of wall Busch hit.

On Tuesday, O'Donnell indicated he was pleased with the course of action so far, and the sanctioning body remains committed to ensuring the safety of its competitors.

"As promised, we expedited a review of potential safety advancements at each of our racing venues," he said in a statement provided to FOXSports.com. "We're pleased with the additional safety enhancements Atlanta Motor Speedway will be making leading into our events this weekend. As we've stated, NASCAR and its track partners remain steadfastly committed to safety."

Other tracks on the NASCAR circuit are taking similar approaches.

AMS announced Tuesday morning it will be adding 150 linear feet of tire and jersey barriers to the inside walls exiting Turn 4 and entering Turn 1. Speedway Motorsports Inc. sister track Charlotte Motor Speedway shipped three flatbed tractor-trailers, with more than 1,100 tires loaded on them, to Atlanta Tuesday afternoon. The goal is to have the barriers installed by Thursday, ahead of this weekend's event.

Scott Cooper, a spokesperson for SMI, told FOXSports.com that prior to Saturday's incident in Daytona, plans were already in place to add additional SAFER barriers at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kentucky Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway. 

Since the Busch incident, SMI development teams and engineers have been reviewing all of the company's tracks, which include Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte, Kentucky, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, New Hampshire, Texas Motor Speedway, and Sonoma Raceway. 

Cooper also indicated NASCAR will work with the tracks and look for additional recommendations on what the facilities need to do to accelerate any additional improvements.

Sonoma Raceway spokeswoman Diana Brennan told FOXSports.com that tire packs like those sent to Atlanta on Tuesday were the preferred method for all of the racing series that compete on the road course, and she felt confident her track was fully covered when it comes to driver safety.

While she indicated there are no immediate plans to add any SAFER barriers, the track will follow any recommendations made by NASCAR or SMI.

International Speedway Corporation president John Saunders indicated ISC is also "developing a significant plan" for SAFER barriers and other "impact-absorbing technologies," beginning with Daytona and Talladega Superspeedway. 

"We will utilize all available tools to ensure the safety of the drivers and our fans. It will remain our top priority," Saunders said in a statement.

"A thorough review of our other ISC facilities will continue with the focus to prioritize each track's most critical areas first. This includes but is not limited to our upcoming races at Phoenix International Raceway and Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. ISC is working very closely with NASCAR and industry experts to identify areas for additional safety protections. As we finalize our plans, we will communicate them to the drivers and necessary stakeholders ahead of our races at each ISC facility."

ISC owns and operates 12 facilities, including Auto Club Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Daytona, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway, Richmond International Raceway, Talladega and Watkins Glen International. 

Not part of the SMI or ISC family, Dover International Speedway is open to suggestions from NASCAR. The one-mile speedway recently completed the installation of a new $2.9 million catch fence.

"Every track has unique characteristics as it relates to SAFER wall installation,"  said Gary Camp, senior director of communications for the track. "Based on recommendations by the University of Nebraska's Midwest Roadside Safety Facility, who was hired by NASCAR a number of years ago, Dover International Speedway has installed SAFER barriers in all recommended areas. This included interior walls on the front and backstretch and outside of all turns.

"We always have the safety of the competitors and our fans at the forefront of our facility, and it is consistently under review," he said. "Safety is a priority for us, so if NASCAR wants to discuss additional improvements, we are all ears."

Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Pocono Raceway were both contacted for this story, but calls had not been returned at the time of publication. 

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