XeSighting
Systems is the proud sponsor of the #88 NASCAR CTS Truck
Crafton
Comments on NASCAR Safety
Last Edited: 08-21-01 22:00
Sandusky,
OHIO - To most racers, driving fast is their focus. Safety is an afterthought.
However, NASCAR Craftsman Truck driver, Matt Crafton, believes the two
go hand in hand.
"Wearing
the HANS makes me feel more secure and I don't have a problem
getting in and out of the truck with it on," stated Matt Crafton,
driver of
the No. 88 XeSightingSystems.com Silverado and 2000 Champion of the NASCAR
Featherlite Southwest Series. "I feel it is important to wear the
HANS
device and test out any additional safety equipment available in hopes
of
decreasing my chances of being injured or paralyzed in an accident."
Crafton is
a rookie driver for Duke Thorson and his SealMaster Racing team
which races full time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Prior to racing
trucks, Crafton raced in the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series claiming
the
championship after just 2 years. There, Crafton didn't wear a HANS device.
However, now that he has stepped up in the racing world, Crafton has worn
the
HANS device during each race this season and the team has installed Simpson
safety nets around the drivers seat.
"The
trucks are much faster and race on larger tracks than the late-model
cars, meaning if I hit the wall, it will hurt much more than hitting the
wall
at a short track like Sandusky Speedway," stated Crafton.
Along the
lines of safety, SealMaster Racing recently signed a major
associate sponsor for the balance of the 2001 season. XeSighting Systems
is
a high performance xenon headlight designed to improve visibility and
safety
for consumers who are looking for added safety for their family vehicles.
XeSighting Systems are available online at www.XeSightingSystems.com and
are
available for the Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe and Suburban.
Will the
addition of soft walls make a difference in the sport? Will this
allow an opening for potential race sponsors who shy away from danger
to
enter the sport if it were made safer? Would the additional of safety
features turn fans away from racing?
"We
have had companies tell us they do not want to be associated with racing
because of the risks involved, however other companies have chosen to
look
past that and, instead factor in the exposure from live ESPN coverage,"
stated Janet Risner, sponsorship coordinator for SealMaster Racing. "There
are companies out there who will take the risk in order to get closer
to
their target customers by sponsoring a race truck, but in doing so they
also
support safety decisions made by NASCAR."
