Nationwide Race @ Daytona

On speed they just said 1 guy was critical   and he got hit by the tire and knocked into the next section

tandem racing isn't what caused this terrible wreck...the race set a record for lead changes for pete's sake...

I agree the car ( #32 ) needs to be looked at...has anyone seen the whole front clip of a car get torn off like this?

Like all here...I hope everyone turns out ok..I did read on ESPN that 17 were injured and two critically. One in surgery for severe head trauma...

Sad way to start the year...

This is what happens when someone throws a block ( Regan Smith )

So, any suggestions race fans?

tandem racing isn't what caused this terrible wreck...the race set a record for lead changes for pete's sake...

I do not think you could be more wrong.  My first question to you is what do those two things you mentioned above have to do with one another?  I fail to see what the number of lead changes in a race has to do with the development of a massive accident at the start finish line.

My take is that the tandem racing causes a problem because at the end of the race, the second car in the leading pair needs to pull a last second move right before the start finish line if they want to win the race.  That causes the lead driver in the pair to either let him by and drag race to the finish or block.  The latter of the two happened today and that action has caused huge wrecks at the start finish line in many of these plate races recently.

This incident today, the Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski incident at Talladega, Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch at Daytona and more all have one thing in common: They were a result of blocking caused by the two car tandem draft.  You will get blocking with the pack racing, but the odds of the leader putting on a massive block move at the S/F line are significantly less.  You have no choice with that two car "racing" (and I find it insulting to even call that racing) but to block if you are the leader.  I strongly believe that style of racing increases the chance of someone getting hooked and airborne at the absolute worst part of the track possible.

We have had two recent incidents where pieces of cars have gotten through the fence and they were BOTH a direct result of the two car tandem racing where a block was made by the leading car in the pair.  You cannot convince me for one second that there is no correlation between the two.

Something Jenna Fryer alluded to that I was thought was interesting:

Both the Edwards wreck at Dega and the Larson wreck at Daytona happened when the car hit the pass-through section of the catch fence that allows officals/fans to walk from the grandstand to the infield.  That is the weakest part of the fence...could be something for NASCAR to look at.  I think we'll see them bolstering up the tethers that hold the pieces of the car/tire together and prevent them from flying all over the place.  At 200 mph, it's hard to imagine the front end not being ripped apart by metal fencing/poles/tethers.

All that being said, thoughts and prayers are certainly with the fans injured today.  It's a scary thing to watch on TV, let alone be a part of.

One thing that I think is horrible is the people taking to twitter blaming one of the drivers for the injuries to the fans.  That is the most ludicrous thing I have ever heard, and a real reflection on them as human beings. 

One thing that I think is horrible is the people taking to twitter blaming one of the drivers for the injuries to the fans.

Like I always tell myself, that is the internet for you.  It always shines a bright light on the true morons that exist out there.

That's definitely an interesting point about the fence though.  I feel like NASCAR has done an incredible job over the past decade in improving the safety for the drivers, as we all saw today.  That said, I believe NASCAR now needs to start focusing more on improving the safety of the fans.

I imagine NASCAR will look at everything from the integrity of the 32 down to figuring out exactly where the car hit.  Just my personal gues is that it hit a post on the catch fence which sheered away the front clip.  I can't tell from the angles I've seen, but its just my educated guess. 

I do not think you could be more wrong.  My first question to you is what do those two things you mentioned above have to do with one another?  I fail to see what the number of lead changes in a race has to do with the development of a massive accident at the start finish line.

My take is that the tandem racing causes a problem because at the end of the race, the second car in the leading pair needs to pull a last second move right before the start finish line if they want to win the race.  That causes the lead driver in the pair to either let him by and drag race to the finish or block.  The latter of the two happened today and that action has caused huge wrecks at the start finish line in many of these plate races recently.

This incident today, the Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski incident at Talladega, Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch at Daytona and more all have one thing in common: They were a result of blocking caused by the two car tandem draft.  You will get blocking with the pack racing, but the odds of the leader putting on a massive block move at the S/F line are significantly less.  You have no choice with that two car "racing" (and I find it insulting to even call that racing) but to block if you are the leader.  I strongly believe that style of racing increases the chance of someone getting hooked and airborne at the absolute worst part of the track possible.

We have had two recent incidents where pieces of cars have gotten through the fence and they were BOTH a direct result of the two car tandem racing where a block was made by the leading car in the pair.  You cannot convince me for one second that there is no correlation between the two.

lol...

we had both today...pack and tandem...it was a Great Race until the last few laps...not the follow the leader crap so many on here advocate....

pack racing would have had the same result. A driver throwing a block is not something that just came about...

cars into the catch fence has also been going on for some time...

Do you remember Geoff Bodine's truck almost enter the stands in 2000? Which is probably the most memorable for me anyway...

BTW, you can't convince me for one second pack racing only...today would have had a different result.

BTW, anyone see the replays where the flagman never flinches as the chit hits the fan...remarkable

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NASCAR took this video down from you-tube because they said it was a copyright infringement....this person was only a few seats away from the tire that flew off...holy crap!

I guess we'll agree to disagree on this one.  I suppose my question to you would be how woukd this situation have been able to materialize today if the Nationwide Series was using the Gen 6 car that the Cup Series has?  I don't see how it's possible.

The pack combined with the tandem is the most deadly package NASCAR can offer.  I strongly believe safety concerns are the reason NASCAR has tried so hard for the past two years to break up this style of racing.  After all, why was it such a priority for NASCAR to prevent the Cup Series from doing it?  I can see people having multiple answers for that, but I feel strongly it was because of issues like this.

I guess we'll agree to disagree on this one.  I suppose my question to you would be how woukd this situation have been able to materialize today if the Nationwide Series was using the Gen 6 car that the Cup Series has?  I don't see how it's possible.

The pack combined with the tandem is the most deadly package NASCAR can offer.  I strongly believe safety concerns are the reason NASCAR has tried so hard for the past two years to break up this style of racing.  After all, why was it such a priority for NASCAR to prevent the Cup Series from doing it?  I can see people having multiple answers for that, but I feel strongly it was because of issues like this.

I guess so...

one thing the ones that favor the pack vs the tandem...

when we have the big one...which style of racing invloves more of the field?

I definitely commend NASCAR for all the safety improvements they have made over the past decade.  Not only for the drivers, but pit crews and fans alike.  This is one of those things I don't think you can plan for ahead of time.  With all the improvements to keep the cars on the ground and the fencing to block debris, everything would have done its job, it was just a freak event that Larson's car was hit just right to send it up into the fence.  You'll definitely see NASCAR making adjustments as we move forward...I noticed the same thing in the race I went to after Carl's flip.  Before that, security was a little lax in enforcing people not being too close to the fence....after that flip, they were more strict in getting people away from the fence, especially when the cars were coming around (this was Loudon).  People might criticize this as being "reactionary" instead of proactive, but like Kyle Petty said, in regards to safety, the target is always moving....it's hard to visualize each and every possible event, and NASCAR has done a remarkable job at increasing safety in the sport.



According to USA Today, all the fans brought to Halifax were in stable condition, though 2 remain critical and one has "life-threatening" injuries....continuing to pray for everyone involved!

Also noticed Kyle Larson pulled out of the non-winged sprint race he was supposed to be in tonight....hope he isn't beating himself up over this, nothing he did wrong.  

Certainly not surprised to see Kyle pulled out of running Ocala tonight.  I'm just a little shocked Chip is going to let him bet back into a non wing car after his huge wreck at Eldora last September.