Crash Proves Safety is Paramount for NHRA
Written by David Lamm · October 19, 2005
The horrific crash that involved Pro Stock drivers Bruce Allen and Kenny Koretsky during the O’Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas is proof positive drag cars are the safest race cars in the world. We have all heard the familiar phrase “and they walked away” after what looks to be a horrendous crash. Although Allen and Koretsky suffered injuries the video footage looks like it could have been much worse.
NHRA.com: Allen, Koretsky involved in two-car accident in Dallas
NHRA.com: Crash Footage
Dragracecentral.com: Mike Thomas to Fill in for Injured Kenny Koretsky at Vegas, Pomona
For some reason the crashes that look the worst somehow end up being milder than originally expected. On the reverse side of the coin, crashes that look to be mild can be fatal. A perfect example is the crash that took Dale Earnhardt’s life at the Daytona 500. The footage on television looked like it was a benign crash but turned out to be anything but mild. The recent crash the NHRA witnessed in Dallas looked worse than it turned out to be. I am not trying to downplay the gravity of the situation but the fact that both drivers are recovering is miraculous in itself. Miraculous, yes. Unexpected, not really.
The real credit is owed to the NHRA technical department. The requirements to follow the strict regulations of building and operating a racecar within the confines of the NHRA rule book are paramount. The NHRA has always stood for safety first and this crash is a testament to that commitment. These cars are literally designed to crash and catch on fire and still protect the driver in the process. The cars are required to be safe first by the NHRA and the race teams are responsible for making them fast within the requirements of the safety regulations. It’s worked for over 50 years and I am sure both Allen and Koretsky are happy it hasn’t changed.
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Agreed - but give some credit to NASCAR and the University of Nebraska for the design and implementation of SAFER barrier technology. Also the HANS device mandate.
In consideration, Earnhardt never had put much stock in safety. He was a hold-out for the macho image and paid dearly for it. His swagger pushed a lot of weight in the “safety optional” decisions of the series.
Dragsters aren’t supposed to turn, oval and road course cars have to.
On the other hand, safety for spectators at the strip is nowhere near that afforded to oval track fans. Had these racers flipped over the concrete wall, there’s only a four-foot chain-link fence separating those fans from the action. (No, I’m not lobbying for a 20-foot cable fence, just making an observation that the fans are the “swashbucklers” in NHRA.)
Not exactly apples and oranges in the safety department, but a factor nonetheless.
After all that, a big hat tip and thanks to the early greats of NHRA for their sensibility and focus on driver safety.
As an eye witness to the crash on friday night at Texas,I have to say it was terrifying to see as the grandstands went completely silent until we saw them get the drivers out of the wreckage,still not knowing the condition of the drivers.It was one of the most horrifying crashes ever seen in all my years at the race track.A BIIG hats off to the Safety Safari.These guys and girls were on the scene before the cars came to a complete stop.This team of safety personell are undoubtably the BEST in the buisiness.Anybody that sees these people in action like I have over the years,know these guys act fast and know how to handle each and every situation like this.So not only is it safety in the cars,but the fastest acting safety personell in the business.The drivers know and trust that the Safety Safari will go into action an get the job done.
NASCAR has been far behind in safety for several years. The SAFER barrier was developed by open wheel racings IRL. The HANS device has been around for years, and was not mandated by NASCAR as the sole device for two years after it lost its biggest star.