A number of Sprint Cup Series drivers struck the outside frontstretch wall at Dover Int'l Speedway over the weekend, and NASCAR Exec VP/Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O'Donnell today explained why there "wasn't a SAFER barrier" along that portion of the track, according to Dustin Long of NBCSPORTS.com. Some drivers were unhappy with the lack of SAFER barriers, and O'Donnell appearing on SiriusXM said, "When we looked at SAFER barriers all being in place for this racing season, the plan had always been at both Dover and Indianapolis on the frontstretch wall to not have that covered. There was some logistics and reasoning behind that in terms of really narrowing the frontstretch lane. SAFER barriers were potentially going to dump some of the cars back out into the frontstretch and have the potential of a T-bone of a driver and then there were some challenges in going into Turn 1. Obviously after we went through this weekend, we’ve got to look at what tweaks we can make and be able to install those and maybe look at how the frontstretch could work those in. ... That’s something that we’ve got to address and we’ll do that and very confident the track will work with us as well" (NBCSPORTS.com, 5/16).
CAUSE FOR CONCERN: In Charlotte, David Scott noted Danica Patrick, Tony Stewart and Jamie McMurray on Friday hit the wall during practice, and the fact that they hit in a stretch that was without a SAFER barrier "caused concerns." Kevin Harvick said of not having SAFER barriers at that part of Dover, "There is no excuse." Patrick added, "It shouldn't even be a question whether or not tracks have SAFER barrier all around. It should be mandatory. It shouldn't be a financial decision." Scott noted NASCAR in '06 "mandated that every oval track on the Cup circuit have SAFER barriers." But despite "continued incremental increases at places like Dover and at a cost of at $500 per linear foot" not "every inch of every track is covered" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/14). Dover President & CEO Mike Tatoian said that the facility "spent about $400,000" on new SAFER barriers at other parts of the track. Tatoian "would not rule out adding more." Tatoian: "This is a new data point and it will be reviewed. We will react accordingly. It's not a financial decision. It's what is prudent, what's the right decision" (AP, 5/13). ESPN.com's Bob Pockrass noted NASCAR and its participating tracks "have been busy trying to get more SAFER Barrier in place since a concrete wall broke Kyle Busch's right leg and left foot in an accident last year" at Daytona Int'l Speedway. Yet it "appears they still haven't moved fast enough or still feel their safety analysis shows some walls don't need SAFER Barrier" (ESPN.com, 5/14).
