The NHRA (drag racing) has had 3 deaths so far in 2010. Two drivers and a spectator. In 2010, you really have to wonder why there are any deaths in big time racing.
NASCAR had a spate of deaths in the early 2000's and they went about correcting the problem by making the cars safer and the tracks and they have not had a death in a major NASCAR race in several years. I think Indy car racing has not had a death since 2006.
But NHRA, 3 deaths and it is only in July, why? In the driver's death's. both cases involved the parachutes failing. But if you look at the video of the latest driver to die, Mark Niver, he slowed down but when he hit the fence designed to stop cars, the car buckled in half and collapsed over the driver's cage, killing Niver. Strange. Clearly, the sand pit and the fence slowed down the car but not enough.
When a driver, Scott Kalittla, died in a race in 2008, they shortened the track to reduce speeds.
In the fan's death, a tire tore apart from a car and went up into the stands and killed the fan.
Is it bad luck or lack of safety killing drivers and fans? Are teams taking short cuts in safety? It's not happening in NASCAR or Indy car racing. Maybe the NHRA needs to take some pointers from the two other organizations and make the sport safer. After all, it is 2010. Hopefully, when they come back to Las Vegas, they will have figured it out.
For more information: http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/racing/nhra/columns/story?columnist=blount_terry&id=5372434
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