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NASCAR’s ‘guinea pig’ is enhancing driver safety, but he doesn’t want the credit

BBG News

As a dedicated NASCAR fan with years of experience under my belt, I can’t help but admire the courage and dedication of drivers like Corey LaJoie. His involvement in various safety initiatives within NASCAR is truly commendable. It’s fascinating to see how his life experiences, particularly those shared with his father, a two-time Busch Series champion, have shaped his commitment to making racing safer for everyone.

At Michigan International Speedway on Monday, a minimal collision occurred between Corey LaJoie’s No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet and the rear of Noah Gragson’s No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford as they descended the back straightaway. Few would have anticipated the chain of events that followed.

LaJoie’s vehicle lost control, jumped into the air, somersaulted, and tumbled until it collided with the internal barrier. Fortunately, it came to rest on its proper side.

All after a relatively light tap.

After the accident, the NBC Sports commentary team highlighted that LaJoie has consistently participated in various safety programs with NASCAR throughout his career, and he’s been a leader in ensuring safety for everyone involved.

In an interview with “Beyond the Flag,” LaJoie discussed some of his initiatives, and he frequently acknowledged his father, two-time Busch Series champion Randy LaJoie, for his role in LaJoie’s own participation.

LaJoie confessed, “I dislike serving as a guinea pig; it’s always unfavorable,” expressing his feelings about certain modifications made to the Next Gen car following his unpleasant crash in Michigan.

“I might have been among the early adopters of the mouthpiece sensor, which is similar to Invisalign but has additional external components. These components measure Delta-V and G-force during head movement, particularly during accidents.”

That mouthpiece sensor has proven paramount in collection of some of the data that simply wasn’t accessible before.

“In their experience, NASCAR and drivers have discovered that the information gathered by the car’s black box can occasionally differ from what’s recorded by the driver’s mouthpiece sensor, as pointed out by LaJoie.”

“Understanding the connection between a driver’s sensations and the car’s responses has been crucial in improving headrest foam and other areas like it, including advancements made by NASCAR. Additionally, making the car more absorbent during collisions – specifically, the front clips and bumpers – is also significant.”

However, LaJoie shuns accolades; instead, his main objective revolves around enhancing safety for all current and future racers, mirroring the mission of his father.

While I may not claim full credit, given that my father is quite a trailblazer in terms of safety, particularly seat safety for short track racers, it’s likely I have more knowledge and experience in ensuring safety compared to many others.

If given the opportunity to assist NASCAR by being a sort of test subject for some of their novel devices, I’d gladly take part.

As a longtime NASCAR enthusiast, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension as the sport returns to Daytona International Speedway for the Coke Zero Sugar 400. A year ago, we witnessed a harrowing crash involving Ryan Preece that left me on the edge of my seat. Having been a fan through many ups and downs, I’ve learned to expect the unexpected in NASCAR, but the intensity of that crash still lingers in my memory. The thrill of the race is undeniable, and I can hardly wait to see what unfolds this time around. But as a fan who has seen the highs and lows, I also know that safety is paramount, and I’ll be keeping a close eye on the teams’ efforts to ensure the drivers’ well-being throughout the event.

Tune in to NBC starting at 7:00 p.m. ET this coming Saturday, August 24th, as LaJoie, who has been given the green light to race, will be competing with CELSIUS as his primary sponsor on his No. 7 Chevrolet! Don’t miss out and start your free trial of FuboTV today!

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2024-08-24 19:32

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