When did NASCAR mandate HANS device?

Feb. 18, 2001
ELBURN, Ill. — This year’s Daytona 500 marked the somber 10-year anniversary of Dale Earnhardt’s death. That dark day, Feb. 18, 2001, ultimately led NASCAR officials to mandate the use of the Head and Neck Support (HANS) device to prevent basilar skull fractures.

Did Dale Earnhardts seat belt really break?

Dale Earnhardt’s seat belt did not break during his fatal crash at the Daytona 500, according to one of the first rescuers to come to his aid. Propst’s account breaks two months of silence by those who tried to save Earnhardt.

Is the HANS device mandatory in NASCAR?

The HANS (Head and Neck Support) device, which protects the head and neck during sudden, violent stops, was optional back in 2001 and Earnhardt was not wearing one when he crashed. NASCAR has since made its use mandatory.

Why didnt Dale Earnhardt wear a HANS device?

Dale Earnhardt refused to wear the HANS helmet Several of his colleagues, such as Kyle Petty, Brett Bodine, Matt Kenseth, Dale Jarrett, and Andy Houston, wore it. He claimed that it restricted his freedom of motion and view, making him feel uncomfortable on the track.

What was Dale Earnhardt’s injury when he died?

The official cause of Earnhardt’s death was given by the Volusia County medical examiner’s office as blunt force trauma to his head among other injuries due to the incident. He also sustained a fatal basilar skull fracture on impact.

What did Dale Earnhardt say about the HANS device?

Dale Earnhardt refused to wear the HANS helmet He claimed that it restricted his freedom of motion and view, making him feel uncomfortable on the track. “In our last conversation, Dale came up to me (prior to the 500) and ridiculed me for wearing it,” said Bodine.

How did Dale Earnhardt’s death affect other drivers?

The neck-saving HANS device, full-faced helmets, better barriers and more were mandated in NASCAR in the years following Earnhardt’s death. It’s a deep tragedy that the sport had to lose one of its most beloved faces for these changes to happen, but they very likely kept other drivers from meeting a similar fate.

Did Dale Earnhardt ever win a NASCAR race in 2001?

He then went on to participate in the NASCAR pre-season races during Daytona Speedweeks, where 2001 became the first year in a long time where Earnhardt failed to win one of those races. His best result was second to Tony Stewart in the Budweiser Shootout.

Is Dale Earnhardt a personal hero to you?

Dale Earnhardt is a personal hero of mine. Thankfully mass media in the form of YouTube and online sources makes it unimportant whether or not I saw him race because one can become a fan and feel just as connected to his legacy through watching old races and interviews as someone who experienced those moments live.

Why didn’t Denny Earnhardt’s crash look bad?

Earnhardt’s crash didn’t look bad because most people underestimate the violence of the sudden stop. When Earnhardt’s car hit the wall, it came to a very sudden stop. Imagine a sliding a bar of soap across a wet floor and stopping it with your hand, when the soap stops, it stops.