Have a FaceBook, Twitter, or other social networking account?

Link them to your fanatic account!

Add An Account

TAKE ME TO...
NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
CUP: Drivers Alive Today Because Of COT
Joey Logano was involved in an end over end wreck during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway...
Larry Woody  | http://www.RacinToday.com  |  Posted October 01, 2009   Charlotte, NC
Joey Logano walked away from this wreck on turn three during the early laps of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Did the Car of Tomorrow save the Star of Tomorrow?

Despite persistent criticism of the COT that was introduced into the Sprint Cup Series, there is accumulating evidence that it is meeting NASCAR’s main goal – increased driver safety.

Joey Logano Dover Crash

The latest testimonial is last Sunday’s wild Dover rollover by rookie sensation Joey Logano.

Logano’s Toyota crashed, flipped and barrel-rolled seven times down the concrete track before finally shuddering to a stop on its side.

Amazingly, Logano wriggled out of the wreckage without a bump or a scratch.

“I’m fine,” said the rising young superstar. “It just goes to show how safe these cars are.”

Indeed, there have been several other horrendous-looking crashes involving the COT in which the driver(s) escaped unscathed.

Despite all the griping and grousing about some aspects of the COT, it may be saving lives. There was a time in the sport – perhaps not all that long ago – when a driver almost certainly would not have walked away from such a crash as Logano’s.

Safety was one of the three objectives stated by NASCAR when it engineered the COT. The other two were cost-cutting for teams and better competition on the track. The jury’s still out on the latter two, but I don’t think anyone can argue that NASCAR has, in fact, built a safer race car.

After he finally stopped tumbling, Logano stated the obvious: he had just taken the wildest ride of his young life.


Page 1 of 2
Prev
12
Next
larry_woody's avatar

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Larry Woody

RacinToday.com

MORE BY THIS AUTHOR
Advertising | Jobs | Feedback | FAQ | Terms of Use | NEW Privacy Policy | Ad Choices | Site Map
Fox Sports | FUEL TV | FX Network | National Geographic | IGN | AskMen
The Motor Sports Authority, SPEED and associated logos are registered trademarks of Speed Channel Inc.
All Rights Reserved © Speed Channel, Inc. 2012

All external links will open in a new browser window. SPEED.com does not endorse external sites.