Tracks made safety improvements after Busch's crash in February
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Crashing during the season-opening XFINITY Series race at Daytona International Speedway and suffering a broken leg and broken foot wasn't exactly the way Kyle Busch wanted to arrive as a safety spokesman for the sport and its facilities.
But nearly five months later – five Sprint Cup races and one victory into his return -- Busch said he is glad to see the response from tracks, such as Daytona International Speedway, and hopes to see more, including the elimination of grass surface in track infields.
Busch said Saturday that he rode around the track with DIS President Joie Chitwood before track activities began this weekend so they could look at the multiple safety improvements the track has made since Busch's Feb. 21 accident.
There is an opening in Turn 1 that Busch suggested should be closed up a bit to be "more like Turn 4" but understands the complications because of Daytona's infield road course there. More significantly, Busch said drivers would like to get rid of the grass, because the surface makes a car more dangerously uncontrollable.
"The reality is there is no sense for grass, absolutely no reason for grass at any of these facilities and that needs to be one of the next big pushes we have,'' Busch said Saturday, acknowledging the progress made in safety, but calling for an even more pro-active approach.
"These race tracks know what needs to happen. It's not a secret. Just take a survey riding around the race track and look at how a race car could hit a wall. It's not rocket science. It just needs to happen."
DIS executives announced Saturday morning that it will be adding another 54,000 linear square feet of SAFER barriers around the property. It added 4,000 linear feet for this weekend's Coke Zero 400.
Since Busch's accident, the track laid 20,000 square feet of asphalt in Turn 1 and re-aligned walls.
“I wouldn’t say you ever feel safe, but you’re certainly grateful for the opportunity with the race tracks – not just Daytona, but all the race tracks to continue to work on the evolution of safety as well as NASCAR, the work that they’ve done throughout the years with the seats and the HANS device and our restraints and everything,'' Busch said. "I’m grateful that the Daytona International Speedway was as complimentary as they were after the crash here in the spring. They wanted to fix it and they wanted to do everything they could do in their power to make sure everything was done right here at the speedway and to make it first class.
"I think they’ve done that. I think there’s certainly always room for improvements – any facility you go to, I feel like there’s room for improvement. Seeing those done here at Daytona was really good.”
Earlier this week, Busch and his wife Samantha made a point to visit nearby Halifax Medical Center where he was initially treated for his injuries.
"Going back to Halifax was something Samantha and I wanted to do because they were so awesome there and knew those people really cared about what they did and the people. We just wanted to make them aware of how appreciative we are."
Busch got an up-close look at the track – more than he bargained for – when he was collected in a 10-car crash only 10 minutes into Friday's opening practice session for the Coke Zero 400.
He along with seven other drivers – including two other Joe Gibbs Racing teammates – had to go to back-up cars.
"Disappointing and frustrating, Busch said of his first laps back at Daytona since the accident. "Just hope the back-up is good enough for a solid finish.
"It's just the way this place is and the way these cars run so close together. … it just sucks for the team guys. They've worked so hard."