By: Nancy Valerio & Dulce Guzman

Keeping Drivers (and fans) alive

The NASCAR Research and Development Center works to ensure safety of the sport

Three Focus Areas: Making racing safer, Keeping the sport competitive, and containing the costs of competing

You can make the car as safe as possible but it won’t do you any good if the driver doesn’t stop when the car stops.

In 2007 NASKAR started requiring to use a six-point restraint system.

The six-point harness has two belts that wrap around the legs, which is more effective than a crotch strap. All six belts come together in a quick –release lock near the center of the driver’s pelvic region so that the driver (or recue team) can release all the belts with one motion.

Marking Racing Safer

Belts in race cars are woven much more tightly than those used in passenger cars so they don’t stretch to much.

Harness belts used to be made from nylon (same material of airbags) but most manufacturers are moving to polyester, which is as strong as nylon , slightly less stretchable, and doesn’t degrade as quickly when exposed to UV radiation and heat.

The seats literally envelop the driver, coming up high on the sides to surround and protect the entire pelvis.

Broad arms wrap around the driver’s head