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A lot more than just the driver's names have changed over the course of 20 years in the NASCAR world. From the way
the cars look to the way the event unfolds, it's safe to say that stock car racing has entered a new era.
But the question remains: Is it truly change for better?
From a visual standpoint, the cars clearly aren't the same as they were
when racers like Dale Earnhardt, Ernie Irvan, and Rusty Wallace wheeled boxy chariots around tracks mostly
in the southeastern United States. The stock cars of 1991 were simplistic in aesthetics.
Automobile-related products dominated the sponsorship picture with GM Goodwrench, Motorcraft, Citgo, and Havoline
getting front-pack exposure time by the drivers and teams who carried their colors.
Today's racecar can handle some bumpdrafting at Daytona and Talladega, hit the third corner wall at Phoenix and still win
a race, and are fully serviced with four fresh tires and part ethanol-based fuel in less than 15 seconds.
Everyday products and stores adorn these rides such as 3M, Red Bull, Target, The Home Depot, and Lowe's.
Discussing the physical appearances of these cars is merely touching the surface at how much has changed in Cup racing
since 1991. While it is one of the key aspects of the evolution of NASCAR racing, there are also some intangibles to
consider. For instance, the safety of the cars has greatly improved since the days of Earnhardt, Irvan, and Wallace.
Yes, they still have window nets and the racers still wear firesuits and driving gloves, but there's
a few new components within the car.
Roof flaps were implemented in mid-1994 following some frightful crashes the previous year at Talladega Superspeedway.
The HANS device attaches to the helmet to ensure the driver's head does not snap forward in the event of a frontal
collision. The HANS device was a regular feature on open wheel vehicles often found in the Indianapolis 500
or European auto racing circuits. With drivers exposed as they were with those cars, the need for that safety
innovation was needed to save lives. The deaths of Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin, Tony Roper, and Dale Earnhardt propelled
NASCAR into the spotlight to greatly improve the safety features of their stock cars in all divisions.
By October 2001, the sport made the HANS device mandatory for the top three series, as well as full-face helmets
for all competitors.
Race tracks improved their facilities by installing SAFER barriers -- or soft walls -- to absorb the impact of a crash.
For newer fans, the softer walls are as commonplace as HD scoreboards, splitters, and free passes under caution.
However, the presence of SAFER barriers has improved driver and spectator safety with racers walking away from their
battered cars unscathed more often than not. Phased into the sport during the 2003-2005 seasons, the SAFER barrier technology is not only found on the outside retaining
walls of nearly all NASCAR tracks, but also on the inside walls that separate the race track to the garage area and camping
ground areas for fans.
Michael McDowell walked away from a head-on wreck during qualifying at Texas Motor Speedway in 2008 due in large part to the new generation
racecar and the softer wall. When Carl Edwards' car became airborne and flew into the catchfence at Talladega
Superspeedway in 2009, the track responded by raising the height of the catchfence along the frontstretch.
The next time you sit down to watch a race, take a moment to reflect on how much the sport has changed to make sure each
event is as competitive -- and safe-- as it can be.
*Watch for Part II in May where the focus shifts to on-track competition
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