The Only Thing Missing from Dillon's Daytona Wreck

After a very long time, I've decided to post again; my principal motivation is that I haven't seen this discussion anywhere else and am compelled to bring it forward. My motivation is purely to spur discussion, out of respect for those many track services personnel that perform so well on behalf of NASCAR each week.

The final lap of the Coke Zero 400 had the early-morning television viewers holding their collective breath, and nearly broke the Internet through the early morning as video of Austin Dillon’s final lap crash went viral. Everyone is applauding NASCAR’s work on safety within the car and Daytona International Speedway’s improvements to the infrastructure that allowed Dillon to wave to the crowd.

Last night should be an eye-opener for NASCAR, because one of the recent changes may be backfiring.  Last night showed the risk of removing most of the officials from pit road.

Since Michael Waltrip landed on his roof in the 2004 Daytona 500, the roof-resting race vehicle procedure has been practiced every year.  Not just at Daytona, but at any track in which a Sprint Cup, Xfinity, or Camping World Truck race is held .  Daytona International Speedway has a highly experienced team of emergency services professionals led by Troy Willrick, Senior Director of Events and Emergency Services.   Many of these individuals have 20+ years of service. These units are under the control of the Emergency Services Coordinator (ESC) in NASCAR’s Race Control. These ESCs have years of experience in both emergency services and motorsports, are part of NASCAR’s Track Services group, and have a solid relationship with each track’s emergency services personnel built through both events and participation in training. 

First, let’s point out that NASCAR has an emphasis on positive control.  Nothing moves onto the race track until the caution has been communicated and the leader has demonstrably slowed from race speed and acknowledged the yellow. Once the leader “has it,” the safety vehicles are given a direct command by Race Control.  The fact is, while the crews from pit road ran to the 3, there were still vehicles with significant speed coming into an area littered with fuel, debris, coolant and oil.  There were no physical barriers between these crew members and race traffic. The danger to these members of the crew was extremely real; NASCAR’s policy about entering onto the racing surface is well known. There are no exceptions to that policy.  The history of people walking on the racing surface while performing track services functions is well known to the DIS crew. Roy Weaver, a Daytona track worker picking up debris in Turn 2, was fatally injured when struck by a race vehicle in a DASH series race in 2004. The argument will be “the race was over…”  In a 3,400 pound race vehicle, even hitting someone at 35 miles per hour will cause serious injury.  And despite the skill of drivers in NASCAR’s top series – they can’t control a car that suddenly loses a tire, or hits fluid on the track.

Second, focus on Austin Dillon.  His race vehicle was inverted.  Daytona has a “99” physician, skilled paramedics, and extrication crews ready to respond no matter where Dillon’s car came to rest on the track. The paramedics are trained in this specific situation, and NASCAR’s “Chase Vehicle” is close by as well. These resources were at Dillon's car within 40 seconds of it coming to rest.  Removing Dillon from the car was the role of a medical provider, not a well-intentioned crew member. Doing so could have significantly aggravated an injury.  Not only that, but history also tells us that the crew members are slow to relinquish space to track services personnel.  Ask anyone who has ever witnessed a medical cart moving through the fire lane behind pit road.  Everyone understands their emotion and their passion, but just like the family members at the wreck on the interstate – they need to let the professionals perform as they have been trained.  And in this case, they were in the way because simply put - there were no barriers to prevent them from doing so.

This didn’t have to unfold this way.  In years past NASCAR attempted to have an official in each pit stall.  NASCAR has been moving away from this for a couple years, quietly.  High definition cameras and timing loops certainly capture much of the information necessary for issuing penalties, and messages can be relayed to teams pretty effectively using NASCAR's radio system and technology.  What has been lost is the safety margin, and to a lesser extent – control of pit road.

The NASCAR official was in each pit for more than to issue lug nut penalties and relay messages.  The official saw when a fuel man had accidentally been covered in fuel, and made him change out his fire suit before the next pit cycle.  When there was a fire in a pit stall, the official was there to support the pit road firefighter, watching traffic on pit road. In more than one event, there is video of an official pulling a firefighter towards pit wall because of pit road traffic. In the Xfinity race Saturday night, a team member went over the wall without a helmet.  An official in the pit would likely have prevented that.  Sometimes a presence is necessary to maintain order and control, and since NASCAR’s early days the pit road official was that presence.

Last night, pit road officials would have stopped – or at least stemmed the tide - of crew members running onto the track and allowed DIS emergency personnel to manage Austin Dillon’s incident safely.

Most of NASCAR’s changes are well thought out and planned, even years in advance.  The general public typically doesn't get to see the animated discussions and due diligence that goes into even the simplest change. NASCAR's processes and diligence were on full display in the construction of Dillon's car - and the condition it left the track in.

Nobody can fault NASCAR for trying to improve efficiency and control costs, while being more consistent in calling penalties.  Controlling costs, improving competition, and improving safety are the core elements of NASCAR’s Research & Development Center in Concord, North Carolina.  In this case, the change has resulted in unintended consequences.  Reducing the number of officials to the current six to eight has virtually eliminated the safety margin on pit road, arguably the most dangerous section of any race track.  Perhaps this weekend’s event should create discussion about whether the pendulum has swung too far.