rpm.espn.com: Head, neck injuries primary cause

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Sunday, November 11

Head, neck injuries primary cause
Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- At least 260 people -- 11 percent of them spectators -- have died at auto racing events since 1990 that include the gamut of U.S. motorsports from NASCAR to dragsters, The Charlotte Observer reported Sunday.

Twenty-nine spectators, including five children, and have been killed in track mishaps along with 204 drivers -- an average of 22 fatalities a year during the period examined by The Observer.

Another 200 drivers and fans suffered traumatic injuries.

"This is something the industry has to deal with. We have a moral obligation," said H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president of Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, where there were more fatalities -- seven -- than any other U.S. track since 1990.

Stock car racing legend Richard Petty, whose grandson died in a racing wreck, was surprised by the number of deaths related to U.S. motorsports, but characterized it as tolerable over the 12-year span.

"That's a lot of racing," Petty said.

This year has been among racing's worst with 33 deaths, 29 of them at small tracks. In June, seven drivers died in seven states, all at small tracks. A wreck at Lorain County Speedway in Ohio killed one fan and hurt 13.

The Observer said its study of fatal wrecks since 1990 found that:

In addition to the 29 spectator deaths, at least 70 were injured. Track owners say car parts and debris commonly clear fences, which vary in height from about 9 to 22 feet on oval tracks and 4 to 6 feet on drag strips.

Except in top divisions, drivers are rarely screened for experience or health problems. Since 1990, at least 32 drivers died from heart attacks while racing, sometimes hurting other drivers or fans.

Head and neck injuries killed at least half the drivers, including NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt at February's Daytona 500. NASCAR mandated head restraints for its top-level races in October.

Children too young for a driver's license can race at many tracks. Drivers with revoked licenses or drunk driving convictions often are allowed to compete.

Emergency preparedness varies, depending on a track's size and resources. Some small tracks provide untrained rescuers and no ambulances or firetrucks.

Of the 204 drivers who died since 1990, an average of 14 a year died in crashes while three others died of health problems on the track. Estimates of how many drive competitively in the U.S. range from 50,000 to 400,000.

By comparison, four football players out of about 1.8 million die from on-field injuries each year. Nine others die from health problems such as heatstroke.

The newspaper's study included all levels of U.S. auto racing -- from the premier Winston Cup circuit and Indy car events to dirt-track races. The report excluded deaths from youth go-karts, motorcycles, monster trucks, mud racing and racing schools.

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