NASCAR chairman Brian France reaffirms commitment to safety

In the wake of a devastating accident that left Kyle Busch seriously injured, NASCAR chairman Brian France reemphasized the sanctioning body’s commitment to safety Monday.

Busch broke his right leg and left foot after being involved in a multi-car wreck during the Xfinity Series race Saturday at Daytona International Speedway. His car spun off the track and heavily impacted an infield wall, which was not covered with a SAFER (steel and foam energy reduction) barrier.

“I‘m really disappointed that we didn’t get that right and obviously disappointed for Kyle,” France said on Sirius XM NASCAR radio. “But we will. We’ll get that right going forward. That’s a cornerstone of what we do. If we don’t get safety right, then nothing else really matters.”

Over the years, several drivers have been outspoken about Daytona’s lack of initiative to install SAFER barriers on every wall surrounding the racing surface despite a massive $400 million renovation of its grandstands and other fan amenities. The reason most universally cited for SAFER barriers not being utilized is cost. Estimates range upwards of $500 per foot.

On the night of Busch’s accident, Daytona president Joie Chitwood III vowed to immediately place SAFER barriers on all walls surrounding the racing surface. France vehemently supported that decision Monday.

“Joie Chitwood said it best -- ‘Hey, look, that’s unacceptable and we’re going to own that and move forward,’” France said. “That’s how we’re wired. That’s a cornerstone of what we do. Safety and performance are at the hallmark of NASCAR.”

But many drivers are wondering why someone had to get hurt before tracks responded. Defending Sprint Cup champion Kevin Harvick wrecked in nearly the same spot as Busch last year, and spoke then for the need to better protect drivers. The calls for improved safety measures went unheeded.

“Hopefully this is a lesson learned,” Harvick said Sunday. “You don’t want to have a reaction. The race tracks have to be proactive and they have to look ahead of an accident that did happen. They have to look ahead and look for accidents that might happen.”

Busch’s crash has spurred initiative among other racetracks to install additional SAFER barriers on their walls. Kentucky Speedway will cover its backstretch wall before its July NASCAR weekend, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal. And Talladega Superspeedway is likely to cover its walls entirely, according to the USA Today.

“Sometimes you have to see what can possibly happen before you realize that you’ve got a problem that needs to be corrected,” Kentucky general manager Mark Simendinger said. “Obviously it’s an expensive thing to do. It takes time. But it’s something we’re committed to.”