2-Time Coca-Cola 600 Winner Strongly Believes Ryan Blaney’s Horrifying Incident Will Force NASCAR to Look Within

Switching over to the Next Gen cars, NASCAR upped its safety quotient accordingly. Implementing the new Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) barriers on its circuits, NASCAR aimed to lessen impact damage and driver injuries. Yet, Ryan Blaney’s crash at Nashville pointed out a major flaw in the SAFERs design, also triggering an oversight debate. Post the Ally 400, Ryan Blaney criticized the lack of any safety barrier in the inside wall. Agreeing with Blaney’s view, NASCAR’s Elton Sawyer too expressed his thoughts on the debacle.

As NASCAR looks into the incidents in Nashville, two-time Coca-Cola 600 winner, Jeff Burton, strongly believes NASCAR will review the safety of all its circuits.

“Will force a review”: Jeff Burton speaks on Ryan Blaney’s crash

The squashed front fascia of Team Penske’s #12 Mustang was a testament to the severe impact Ryan Blaney experienced. NASCAR of a while now has been pushing its safety stance, but Blaney’s crash hinted at negligence on NASCAR’s end. Currently evaluating the unprotected wall at Nashville Superspeedway, the horrific crash has forced NASCAR to bite its tongue.

In light of the recent developments, Jeff Burton sat down for a chat with Motorsports on NBC. Discussing the absence of SAFER barriers on the inside wall in Nashville, Burton expressed that Blaney’s crash will force NASCAR to review all its race tracks. The now race analyst and commentator said, “This will force a review of every track. Honestly, without even a phone call, I have a feeling that NASCAR will be looking and reviewing every race track.”

Further iterating NASCAR’s commitment to safety, Burton added, “You know North Wilkesboro is a good example. Historically on new race tracks, they will implement SAFER barriers along the way, they don’t do it all at the same time. But at Wilkesboro, they literally took the SAFER barriers from California, as they were dismounting that track to rebuild it, and drove from California to put on the straights at North Wilkesboro. I know they’re committed to do it. It’s just going back and making sure that every track is looked at, and what can we do proactively rather than reactively.”

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While Burton iterated NASCAR’s safety stance, the oversight at Nashville stood out as an eye-sore.

Elton Sawyer points out SAFER flaw, agreeing with Ryan Blaney

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Earlier NASCAR’s Senior VP of Competition, Elton Sawyer, pointed out a major flaw in NASCAR’s SAFER barrier design. Speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Sawyer revealed how SAFER requires a wall span of 100 feet. Since the inside wall where Blaney crashed was shorter, SAFER couldn’t be placed. 

The Senior VP then agreed with Ryan Blaney’s point of a lack of any safety barrier. Sawyer said, “Whether it be sand barrels, whether that be tire barriers. Something should have been there.”

Read More: “Looked Like He Hit the Gas” – Dale Jarrett Explains How Ryan Blaney’s Vicious Impact Exposed Next-Gen Car’s Limitations

While the safety oversight debate rages on, NASCAR prepares for its first foray into the streets of Chicago.