For a minute on Sunday, the NASCAR garage held its breath. Christopher Bell and Chase Elliott were involved in a violent crash at Michigan International Speedway. Fortunately, both walked away from the impact on their own. Following the incident, fans have united to praise NASCAR’s safety. 

During the Cup race, the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan on Lap 148, Bell and Elliott collided while battling for second place. Going into turn 3, the No. 9 car on the inside got loose and hit the door of the No. 20 car, which sent both drivers into the outside wall before Elliott slid down the track and hit the inside wall as well. 

In this violent crash, which took place at around 200 mph, both vehicles were destroyed. However, the Joe Gibbs Racing and the Hendrick Motorsports drivers walked away from the crash unscathed. Christopher Bell’s car caught fire as the safety workers reached the accident. 

The safer barrier was dented inward, forcing the race to halt while it was repaired. The workers were seen using sledgehammers and welding tools to fix the barrier, consisting of foam and steel, to restore it. 

However, this crash is a testament to how far NASCAR has come in terms of the safety of the drivers. Fans took to their social media to praise the sport for improving their safety over the years. 

Fans Praise NASCAR for the Improved Safety Measures

After various clips of the accident started making rounds on social media, fans shared their thoughts about how much safer the sport has become. One fan shared their thought, writing:

“Man, I've never seen a SAFER barrier this badly deformed. Safest racing in the world to walk away from that.”

While another fan pointed out that the damaged SAFER barrier is meant to look like that after an accident, as it is supposed to absorb the impact of the crash. They wrote:

“As ugly as that accident was, this is such a great image. This is exactly what you want that wall to look like after a crash like that. Absolute life saver.”

Yet another fan wrote how things would have been different had the crash taken place in an older era.

“20 years ago i don't think that would've been survivable. shoutout to nascar and everyone involved in making our tracks and cars safer” they wrote.

Another was glad that Bell walked away from the crash, writing:

“That might just be the hardest hit we've seen with this car... glad to see Christopher Bell walk away but hope he's alright after that.”

Another fan echoed similar sentiments, writing, “That had to have been close to 40 G’s or more Thankfully both drivers are okay” 

Such crashes once again serve as a reminder about how far NASCAR has come with its safety and why such high standards of safety measures are important. 

What are your thoughts on this incident? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Yash Kotak