Martin for SAFER walls, but not at Darlington

LAS VEGAS -- Darlington Raceway plans to install SAFER barriers for this month's Carolina Dodge Dealers 400, and Mark Martin isn't sure it's a good move.

	Mark Martin

NASCAR made it known in February that they will try to place SAFER barriers at tracks where it is "recommended" by 2005.

But Martin said that Darlington's eccentric shape and banking -- which causes drivers to run inches from the wall -- might create problems for the drivers.

"I applaud NASCAR, and SAFER barriers are wonderful," Martin said. "But for a race (at Darlington), we're going to be crippled if we lose two or three feet. I sure hope they are not putting barriers at Darlington, because there's not room there."

Darlington Raceway measures 1.33 miles -- the only such track in NASCAR with that configuration. It held its first major race in 1950 and has undergone very few changes since then.

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Drivers have to run on the top groove against the wall to race effectively -- the same way David Pearson did when he was dominating at Darlington in the 1970s.

"Darlington, for the speed and the shape, it's the narrowest track we race on by far," Martin said. "(The SAFER barrier) is less needed there than most places."

Martin is worried that Darlington will become too tight, especially at a track where lapped traffic often helps determine the outcome of the event.

"We needed two more feet going out, not two feet coming in," Martin said.