Alabama superspeedway the latest to make safety enhancements
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Talladega Superspeedway announced plans on Thursday to add SAFER (Steel And Foam Energy Reduction) barriers to its existing barrier system ahead of the NASCAR weekend on May 1-3.
The track will add SAFER barriers in three locations — along the inside wall at entrances to pit road, Turn 1 and Turn 3.
“We are committed to making Talladega Superspeedway a safe environment for drivers as well as for our fans,” Talladega Superspeedway Chairman Grant Lynch said. “Safety is our top priority and will continue to collaborate with ISC, NASCAR and ARCA on any future safety enhancements.”
The 2.66-mile track will host the NASCAR XFINITY Series Winn Dixie 300 on Saturday, May 2 (3 p.m. ET, FOX) and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 500 on Sunday, May 3 (1 p.m. ET, FOX).
Since Kyle Busch‘s accident in the XFINITY Series opener at Daytona International Speedway, in which the Joe Gibbs Racing driver hit a wall that did not have a SAFER barrier, tracks have been analyzing their protective barriers and making immediate enhancements where possible. Busch suffered a compact fracture to his right lower leg and a mid-foot fracture of his left foot from the accident and is out indefinitely.
Drivers have also been more vocal about the need for more SAFER barriers. Jeff Gordon and Ryan Newman met with NASCAR officials recently, and safety was among the topics of discussion.
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