NASCAR running thread

NASCAR has dodged many bullets since Feb. 18, 2001.

 

Yes, they have. They've done a lot of work to make things safer, but there's still a lot of danger there.

 

There's more to it than meets the eye. SAFER barriers also can bounce cars backwards. At certain areas of a track (like, for example, where Hamlin hit), the tendency (taking into account the expected angle at which the car would approach the wall) might be to send a car careening backwards and against the grain of traffic.

 

It's one of those "lesser of two evils" scenarios. I wouldn't want to be hit by a car in traffic like that, but to me, that's better than hitting concrete and just stopping so damn fast. It's not how fast you're going when you hit the concrete that kills you. It's the sudden stopping andd snapping of your neck and vital organs.

 

It's nice of you to consider the other drivers.

 

All true ... the driver hitting the wall isn't the only consideration, though. Still, with the newer (and clearly safer) cars, some re-thinking of the extent of SAFER coverage is certainly warranted.

 

Maybe not. The car going back onto the track against the traffic is carrying a little speed. If it's going 50 mph, and the oncoming traffic has only managed to slow to 130, and the damaged car makes direct contact with another car, it's the equivalent of two cars hitting the wall at 180 mph.

 

Part of this is on Hamlin for locking up the brakes so early and keeping them locked.

SAFER crush barriers were specifically designed to reduce the likelihood that a car is bounced back into traffic - as was sometimes the case with the old PEDS barriers or the IPS system.

Can't prevent everything, but a SAFER barrier at that spot is likely an upgrade.

 

NRA 500 or whatever the hell it was at Texas featured some infield entertainment that befits the sponsor:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/14/nra-500-suicide_n_3082119.html

 

Man, I didn't think the racing at Texas was THAT boring.

 

I noticed FOX made no reference to the NRA sponsorship of the race. NONE.
How unusual is that?
Anyone listen to the race? Did PRN do the same?