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Saturday, February 24 Safety a hot topic in garage By Wayne Drehs ESPN.com Numerous drivers said Saturday that the fatal crash involving Dale Earnhardt has caused them to re-evaluate not only some of their safety procedures, but their role in the often dangerous sport as well. Bobby Labonte, the 2000 Winston Cup champion, said he spent time last week easing the concerns of his family, who had numerous questions after the sports most indestructible figure died on the track. "Everybody's got to do a little check on themselves," Labonte said. "When I get home late after telling my wife I'm going to be home early, I better have a reason to say why I was late -- 'something happened' or whatever. "You just have to try and explain things as best as you can. I'm not good at it, but it's what you have to do." Rusty Wallace, whose been driving in NASCAR since 1980 and has three kids, admitted that retirement has creped into his mind -- before and after the Earnhardt accident. "I'd be lying if I said I haven't thought about it," Wallace said. "I don't need to race any longer. But I enjoy it. It's what I do. And I probably have three to four years left in me. I just hope that when I do quit that I do it on a high note. I don't want to get or mangled or have something stupid happen to me." Safety committee Responding to suggestions from other drivers that NASCAR could use some sort of a driver's safety committee, Wallace said he'd be more than willing to lead the group, considering he's one of the sports elder statesmen. Todd Bodine said Friday that such a committee would be a way for Winston Cup drivers to share different tips about safety and then go to NASCAR as a group with suggestions. "It's not a bad idea," Wallace said. "A lot of guys might be uncomfortable talking to the NASCAR fellas, but I'm not. I'd be more than comfortable bringing the ideas and talking about different things to NASCAR." At the very least, Jeff Burton said there needs to be more discussions between drivers and NASCAR officials. "We need to get together to solve a problem that we obviously have," Burton said. "It isn't because we want it to be here, it snuck up on us. We have to figure out a way to make it safer together." Seatbelt controversy Nearly all the drivers in Sunday's Dura Lube 400 said they have "100-percent" confidence in their seatbelts, a strong statement after Friday's news that Earnhardt's seatbelt snapped in his fatal crash. Bill Simpson, founder and chairman of Simpson Performance Products, which made the faulty seatbelt, said Friday he has never seen a belt break like that in 43 years of business. Wallace supported those comments and added that Earnhardt liked his belts to be installed a special way. "That's what I heard today," Wallace said. "So who knows? But I'm really comfortable with the safety of my seatbelt." Gordon echoed those statements. "I would find it very hard to believe there's something wrong with the seat belt," he said. "It's just never happened before."  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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