Photo by sidehike
McDowell at the Texas Motor Speedway
In 2008, McDowell was involved in an accident at the Texas Motor Speedway. During qualification of the Sprint 500 Samsung race, the right front sway bar broke on McDowell’s car causing the Toyota to hit the SAFER barrier near Turn 1. McDowell’s car was moving at a speed of approximately 165 miles per hour when it hit the barrier head on. The car spun and tipped over onto its roof and, while on fire, rolled eight times.
The event was nearly fatal, but because of the advancements in safety and protection over the years allowed the driver to walk away from the accident unscathed. Developments such as new track walls. the HANS device – a head and neck restraint, and the Car of Tomorrow (CoT), which is known to be safer and allow for closer competition, provide extra safety for NASCAR drivers.
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