Following Kyle Busch's injury at Daytona Int'l Speedway on Saturday, Talladega Superspeedway Chair Grant Lynch yesterday said that more SAFER barriers "would be installed" at the track before its May NASCAR weekend, according to Mike Hembree of USA TODAY. Lynch said, "We'll look at our facility and reassess how we can make it better for the competitors as we've done with the catchfences and other things over the past 20 years." He added, "Based on what happened ... there will be a big focus on Talladega." Lynch: "I think we've put more (SAFER barriers) up than anybody, but that stands to reason because we're the biggest track with the most inside and outside walls. ... I'm sure you'll see us mirror what they decide to do at Daytona. We've always done that." Lynch added that he "didn't know what percentage of Talladega's walls had the barriers." Meanwhile, NASCAR Chair & CEO Brian France yesterday said that "appropriate changes would be made" at DIS. France: "I'm really disappointed that we didn't get that right and obviously disappointed for Kyle. But we will. That's a cornerstone of what we do. (If) we don't get safety right, then nothing else really matters" (USA TODAY, 2/24). CBS Sports Network's Jim Rome said, “This is not some dimly lit local dirt track. It's Daytona, it’s that sport’s Super Bowl. And don't tell me SAFER walls are too expensive. NASCAR has got an eight-plus billion dollar TV contract” (“Rome,” CBS Sports Network, 2/23).
MORE TRACKS MAKING ADDITIONS: Kentucky Speedway GM Mark Simendinger yesterday said that track officials "have long considered" adding more SAFER barriers to the track's walls. Simendinger: "With what happened to Kyle Busch, it ratcheted up the urgency." He added, "Sometimes you have to see what can possibly happen before you realize that you've got a problem that needs to be corrected. Obviously it's an expensive thing to do. It takes time. But it's something we're committed to. ... I've always said safety is our No. 1 thing, so that's what we're going to do assuming we can get the work done between now and our races." The track hosts NASCAR races July 9-11 (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 2/24). Meanwhile, Atlanta Motor Speedway today announced it add more barriers, including extending the protective wall at the exit of pit road and adding a tire barrier along the inside of Turn 4. The track will look at further additions, including more SAFER barriers, following the upcoming race weekend that includes Sunday's Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Sprint Cup race (AMS).
