Jeff Green offers to pay for restraint systems
By Dave Rodman, Turner Sports Interactive
October 17, 2001
6:53 PM EDT (2253 GMT)
MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Defending NASCAR Busch Series champion Jeff Green believes so strongly that NASCAR drivers should be wearing a head and neck restraint device that he's willing to put his money where his mouth is.
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Jeff Green
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And he made his statements before NASCAR on Wednesday mandated head and neck restraints in the Winston Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series.
Green, who drives ppc Racing’s No. 10 Nestle Nesquik Ford, was disturbed by the news that part-time Busch Series driver Blaise Alexander was not wearing any type of head and neck restraint device when he was killed in a crash Oct. 4 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Green wasn't sure why some drivers weren’t wearing any type of device, so he decided to do a little investigating. He knew that most NBS regulars were wearing some sort of system, either a HANS device or Hutchens device, but he wasn't sure about the other drivers; the ones competing in the series on an irregular basis.
He guessed that the drivers who competed on a limited basis possibly did not have the funds available to purchase a system, which costs from $1,500 to 1,800 for a HANS device and around $300 for a Hutchens device.
After doing some research with NASCAR, Green discovered that his theory was true. Most drivers not using a device were the drivers that did not compete full-time. He did not want cost to be the reason why a driver would not wear what Green believes is an essential piece of safety equipment.
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Blaise Alexander
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"When I found out Blaise Alexander Jr. was not wearing any type of head and neck safety device, I got really upset," Green said. "I'm not sure if cost was the factor, but I know I have the power to make sure it isn't an issue in the future.
“So I decided to take it upon myself to offer to pay for a system for any driver who does not have the means to do so for himself. I've been there. I've struggled trying to make it, so I know where they’re coming from.”
Green stepped up and made the offer at the last Busch race, the Sam’s Town 250 at the .750-mile Memphis Motorsports Park oval. He didn’t buy any devices, but he put his experience to work for his fellow competitors.
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Jimmy Spencer now wears a Hutchens device.
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"At Memphis, I made this offer to the drivers in the rookie meeting,” Green said. “I didn't have anyone take me up on purchasing devices for them, but I did motivate three drivers to go out and purchase Hutchens devices for themselves. After purchasing them, they stopped by and asked me how to use them.
“Another driver had one, but wasn’t wearing it because he had questions about using it and I was able to answer those for him. It means a lot to me to that I can help make a difference and motivate these guys to be more serious about their safety and well-being."
Green also talked to other competitors throughout the weekend to stress more diligent use of their head and neck restraint systems.
"I’ve learned that while many drivers have some sort of safety device, they weren't always using it full-time," said Green of an issue that has also manifested itself in the Winston Cup Series, where among full-time competitors, only Tony Stewart has not consistently used some type of head and neck restraint. "Some were using it only at the big tracks and some only used it only during races.
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Jeff Green's No. 10 car.
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“I want to stress to all drivers that an accident can happen anytime -- during practice, qualifying or a race. It also doesn't matter whether you are on a superspeedway or short-track, you still can hit the wall just as hard.
"I just want everyone to be as safe as possible and do everything in their power to make themselves secure in the race car. That doesn't mean we need to adopt every new safety mechanism that comes out, but a head and neck restraint device won't do anything but help them.
“If I can help make a difference just by letting people know how strongly I feel about this, maybe they will adopt and promote it too."
The next Busch Series race is the Outback Steakhouse 200 on Oct. 27 at Phoenix International Raceway.
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