NASCAR Face Heavy Scrutiny as Fans Expose Faulty Crash Tests – Is This Really the State of Drivers’ Safety?

NASCAR has to be one of the most exciting and life-threatening sports there has been at the same time. It all looks smooth sailing from the spectator’s eyes away from the action but in reality, the man behind the wheels is at the mercy of that particular machine. 28 fatalities in the Cup Series alone and the one in 2001 when Dale Earnhardt lost his life exactly explains how dangerous it is to be a race car driver in NASCAR.

Owing to the seriousness of the matter, NASCAR has been putting in the work to provide the best machine possible to the drivers. The arrival of the Next Gen car in the 2022 season is certainly a step in the right direction by NASCAR. Its adjustable aerodynamic features and the rear diffuser were the highlights of this improved car. The aim here again was to ensure the safety of the driver in case of a cation or a major accident on the tracks. However, a recent simulation video of a crash test has raised eyebrows about how car crashes are dealt with these days.

What is NASCAR’s crash test simulation?

NASCAR with their Next Gen car also came up with a new crash test simulation. Ansys LS-DYNA was the system that would now oversee the whole crash test scenario. Again the motive here was to improve the crash safety of the NASCAR drivers. The simulation method had now started to take over the traditional crash tests, this has been the theme of late.

Several factors allowed the switch towards simulation crash tests. For starters, the simulation significantly reduced the need for physical crash testing, this also saved a dent in NASCAR’s pocket. This also allowed engineers to perform crash tests and build parts for the future Next Gen car.

There is no denying that NASCAR has upped its efforts in the light of better safety precautions for the driver. However, a simulation at times cannot fully justify the experiences and real-life incidents that take place on a racing circuit. While simulation crash tests are by and large a successful one, a video clip of a dummy simulator is now doing rounds and the internet for not-so-good reasons.

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The NASCAR fans are quick to point out lapses and concerns over any major issues and the same can be said about the crash test simulation clip.

Fans question driver’s safety in NASCAR cars

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Simulation is meant to show all the potential scenarios of a crash so that the same can be rectified in the build or design. However, a clip that was shared by Mike Fallon on X, had a lot of fans baffled over the results. The clip shows the dummy safe in the roll cage but the left arm that clung to the steering was off-putting along with his head banging on the windshield.

Users soon started to make theories of their own and questioned NASCAR’s steps towards driver’s safety.

A user’s sarcastic criticism perfectly summed up the whole clip, he wrote, “Brother knocked the wall down and turned his bones to liquid lmao, Test successful”.

The next user was in sync with the fellow above as he wrote, “If the driver is able to stick their arm out the window mid-crash to give a thumbs up then it’s fine”.

Next, the users were in disbelief at how the dummy driver’s head just rolled and banged on the windshield, “The dummy’s head just rolls across the track* NASCAR: “THIS IS THE SAFEST CAR WE’VE EVER MADE!”

Rounding off the common sentiment of sarcastic diss towards NASCAR, another user wrote, “Just a scratch”.

While there are alternatives to conduct a crash test it looks like NASCAR has put faith in the entire simulation process, let us all hope it pays off.

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