NASCAR Safety: Looking for Trouble in all the Wrong Places?

by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

August 27, 2012 2:24 pm UTC No Comments

Why is it so difficult for NASCAR and race tracks to spot potentially dangerous on track areas and not preemptively fix them? Mark Martin’s wreck at @MISpeedway triggered this Fast Lap question from Steve. In the following video, we don’t agree – even a little – on the answer. What say you? Photo credit: BethAnne Heisler – OnPitRow.com

Filed under: Mark Martin, NASCAR, NASCAR business, NASCAR Tech, NASCAR video, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio

Tagged with: NASCAR safety

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Mark Martin Dodges Disaster at Michigan

by Charlie Turner

August 19, 2012 1:10 pm UTC No Comments

Oohs and Oh No’s in the Michigan Speedway media center are not commonplace. When they happen, if you weren’t watching the race, your eyes snap to the TVs. This time was scary.

Mark Martin’s pole-sitting #55 spinning down off turn four, sliding into the entrance of pit lane. Martin kept it off the wall until the car impaled on the end of the pit wall that marks the entrance end of the pits. Miraculously, the wall hit behind Martin’s seat area and not at the door. Had the car hit the wall earlier, the scattering gaggle of NASCAR officials, photographers and pit toads might have taken casualties. If the car hits that piece of wall two feet closer to the front of the car, Mark may not have walked away.

Just when you think that NASCAR has all the dangerous places at racetracks protected with SAFER barriers and such, a race car finds a soft spot. Better fix this one.

Photo credit: BethAnne Heisler – OnPitRow.com

Filed under: Mark Martin, Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR, Sprint Cup Series

Tagged with: MIS, Pure Michigan 400, SAFER barriers

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NASCAR in the Desert: On the Pole in Phoenix, Yoda Is

by Charlie Turner

March 4, 2012 12:12 pm UTC No Comments

Mark Martin found an oasis of youth at a track where he has been consistently strong.

Martin qualified his Michael Waltrip Racing #55 fastest.

He is the all-time leader in top fives, top tens and lead lap finished at Phoenix International Raceway.

Nice though, a win would be, hmmm.

Photo credit: Getty Images for NASCAR

Filed under: Mark Martin, Michael Waltrip Racing, NASCAR, Phoenix International Raceway, Sprint Cup Series

Tagged with: pole qualifying

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NASCAR Pictures: Friday Qualifying for the Sylvania 300

by Charlie Turner

September 24, 2011 9:33 pm UTC No Comments

Exclusive NASCAR photos from New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Our intrepid photog Glenn Bure was there and firing on all cylinders for the Friday Sprint Cup practice and qualifying action at The Magic Mile in Loudon. Nice work Glenn.