Dale Jr. https://www.cfpublic.org/tags/dale-jr Dale Jr. en-US Copyright Fri, 16 Feb 2018 11:10:00 GMT Intersection: NASCAR & Concussions https://www.cfpublic.org/2018-02-16/intersection-nascar-concussions The Daytona 500 revs up this Sunday. The sport’s gotten a lot safer in the last 18 years, and NASCAR is paying more attention to concussions suffered by drivers when they crash. Sports columnist Ken Willis tells Intersection about NASCAR drivers’ hidden injuries. Denny Hamlin leads in the Daytona 500, 2015. Photo by Nascarking, via Wikimedia Commons.
Denny Hamlin leads in the Daytona 500, 2015. Photo by Nascarking, via Wikimedia Commons.

The 60th Daytona 500 roars into life on Sunday, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be there- as the Grand Marshal for the race.

The sport is safer now than when Earnhardt Jr. started his racing career 18 years ago says News Journal sports columnist Ken Willis, who along with Godwin Kelly reported on NASCAR & concussions.

“Over the years, guys were just trying not to get killed,” Willis tells Intersection.

“Getting your bell rung seemed to be barely anything more than a sprained ankle. You were lucky if you got out with a concussion. Thankfully they’ve reached a point in the safety revolution where nowadays, you’re not lucky.”

 

 

]]> Fri, 16 Feb 2018 11:10:00 GMT https://www.cfpublic.org/2018-02-16/intersection-nascar-concussions Matthew Peddie