By: GEORGE TEMPLETON |
Richmond Times-Dispatch Published: August 23, 2011
When Jeff Gordon crashed in the April race at Richmond International Raceway, he hit the inside wall on the backstretch, one of the few parts of the track that didn't have a SAFER barrier. The track began to rectify that problem Friday. "It will cover 900 feet, the entire length of the inside backstretch wall," said RIR president Dennis Bickmeier. "The decision was made before I came here, but I saw the video of the crash and it certainly got my attention. Something like that always raises awareness about safety." The entire outside walls at RIR have SAFER barriers like every Sprint Cup oval track. Developed at the University of Nebraska, SAFER stands for Steel and Foam Energy Reduction. It has been universally praised for improving safety in auto racing. Bundles of polystyrene foam are put between the outside wall and the concrete wall. The foam absorbs and displaces the impact of a car hitting the wall. "The structures have held up very well," Bickmeier said. "People have been very pleased with the SAFER barriers here and at other ISC (International Speedway Corporation) tracks. The energy-absorbing material will get reviewed when it gets to a certain point." Bickmeier also said after the races Sept. 9-10, that RIR will review all its safety procedures for drivers and fans. Bickmeier didn't say how much the installation of the new barrier cost. Now that the inside wall has been improved, Bickmeier, previously the vice president at Michigan International Speedway, can turn his attention to his first RIR race as track president, the Sept. 10 Wonderful Pistachios 400. "I look forward to seeing this place lit up, literally and figuratively," Bickmeier said. "It will be great because I hadn't set foot in here until I was named the president. I will get to look at this place with a fresh set of eyes and see it when it's fully operational at night." Bickmeier also is excited by RIR's position in the Sprint Cup calendar. "It's been fun to track the points week to week," Bickmeier said. "After I was hired July 7, I was watching the race in New Hampshire. Every time they mentioned the points, they mentioned Richmond. It's amazing that I get to take part in something like that. It will be something great for our fans. And who knows what will happen with the wildcard being part of it?"
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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
