Several safety improvements greeted drivers when they arrived at Daytona International Speedway for this weekend’s Sprint Cup and Xfinity Series races.
Daytona adds SAFER barriers, other safety features
Kyle Busch’s February crash spurred Daytona to install additional energy-absorbent soft walls.
Jerry Markland/Getty Images
The track installed additional SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) barriers in three locations -- the exit of pit road towards Turn 1, the entire outside backstretch wall and at the entrance to pit road just off Turn 4.
Additionally, track president Joie Chitwood said more than 200,000 square feet of asphalt replaced large sections of grass to give drivers a greater chance of recovery in case they spin. The paving was done in four areas -- the inside of Turn 1, exit of Turn 4 and near the entrance and exit of pit road.
An inside wall in Turn 1 was also reconfigured.
“With this being a high-speed property and with all the cars traveling close together, the feeling is we want to (be) safer everywhere,” Chitwood said.
The safety initiatives follow Kyle Busch breaking his right leg and left foot in an accident during the Feb. 21 Xfinity race at Daytona, when he spun off the racing surface just past the tri-oval and struck an unprotected concrete wall.
The injuries caused Busch to miss the first 11 races of the Sprint Cup and prompted every NASCAR national series track to reexamine how it could better protect drivers.
Immediately after Busch’s crash, Chitwood vowed that “every square inch of our property” would be covered with SAFER barriers before the Cup and Xfinity divisions returned this weekend. That stated goal was not fulfilled, however. Sections of Daytona still remain without so-called soft walls.
Chitwood said the track would add the remaining portions before February’s Daytona 500.
“Any opportunity to make this property more safe for our competitors is important to us, which is why we undertook the initiative,” he said.
The modifications come amidst Daytona undergoing a $400 million facelift, which includes a new grandstand, expanded concourses and added concession stands and restrooms. Dubbed “Daytona Rising,” the project is expected to be completed in mid-January.
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