Loudon speedway planning to install soft walls

[Elwood]

Loudon speedway planning to install soft walls

 

May 7, 2002

 

 

LOUDON, N.H. (AP) -- Soft walls will be installed at New Hampshire International Speedway in time for its Winston Cup race in July.

 

Winston Cup drivers Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin died in 2000 in separate accidents after crashing into the wall in the track's Turn 3.

 

Track owner Bob Bahre said he is ready to buy the energy-absorbing walls, at an estimated cost of $300,000, as soon as he gets the go-ahead from NASCAR. He's meeting with NASCAR officials this weekend.

 

``It looked to me like it could work,'' Bahre said. ``It's a lot of dough, but if it's going to do the job, who cares?''

 

The walls already are being used at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. During a practice session there Sunday, a car slammed straight into the soft wall at about 220 mph. The driver survived with small fractures in his spine and leg and no head injuries.

 

Bahre also recently watched a test of the walls at the Lincoln, Neb., airport. In the test, an unoccupied car was crashed into the wall at 140 mph.

 

``There's no question in my mind that they're going to work,'' he said.