Breaking news
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR announces updates to concussion protocol
NASCAR reveals their updated concussion protocol, effective immediately.
Nick DeGroot
Edited: Feb 19, 2017, 2:04 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Through its new partnership with American Medical Response (AMR), NASCAR has announced updates to their concussion protocol for all three national divisions.
“NASCAR has worked very closely with the industry to ensure our concussion protocol reflects emerging best practices in this rapidly developing area of sports medicine,” said Jim Cassidy, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations. “We will continue to utilize relationships we’ve had for years with leaders in the neurological research field who helped to shape these updates.”
Among the updates is a mandatory trip to the Infield Care Center for all drivers involved in wrecks and are forced to take their cars to the garage, regardless of if they were able to drive back. Prior to the new protocol, drivers were not required to be evaluated.
Infield Care Center physicians will now use the SCAT-3 diagnostic tool (Sports Concussion Assessment Tool) in screening for head injuries and concussion-related symptoms. In addition, AMR will provide a neurological consultant on-site in select events as the series works to enhance and develop their concussion protocol.
According to Denny Hamlin, the Driver Council has been very involved in improving NASCAR's concussion protocol and urged for more consistency. Hamlin cited the Matt DiBenedetto case from last fall at Texas Motor Speedway where a local physician did not follow NASCAR procedure and sidelined the driver. DiBenedetto disagreed with the decision. He was supported by fellow drivers, including Brad Keselowski.
"We always wondered, is it just based off of how the doctor is feeling that day or what is the actual protocol? In the NFL, they go through step one, step two, step three when you're on the sideline," Hamlin added. "If you don't pass that, you go to tot he locker room and you go through the certain steps again. We always wondered, what is that certain step and it's not just about how does this guy look.
"They sometimes have to protect us from ourselves, but we also want to make sure we're racing on the track with people that are 100%. So I'm all for that and I think it's important that we keep safety first. This sport has really evolved over the last 20 years and there's been very good results because of it. I think this is just another step to make sure everybody has taken the proper stops, not leaving any stone unturned."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Canadian drivers ready to compete in Daytona
Next article Denny Hamlin leads Toyota quartet in final Clash practice
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Nick DeGroot
Jesse Love barely holds off Sam Mayer for NASCAR O'Reilly win at Phoenix
NASCAR O'Reilly
NASCAR O'Reilly
Phoenix II
2 h
Jesse Love barely holds off Sam Mayer for NASCAR O'Reilly win at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
6 h
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles
9/11 after 25 years: How NASCAR went back racing following September 11 attacks
Feature
NASCAR Cup
Feature
NASCAR Cup
9/11 after 25 years: How NASCAR went back racing following September 11 attacks
Latest news
Jesse Love barely holds off Sam Mayer for NASCAR O'Reilly win at Phoenix
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Phoenix II
2 h
Jesse Love barely holds off Sam Mayer for NASCAR O'Reilly win at Phoenix
Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
5 h
Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
6 h
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles
Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
7 h
Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe