New Fuel Cell: NASCAR and Safety Technologies are preparing a Kevlar fuel cell bladder that could limit fuel leaks and resulting fires, especially the near-explosions that rear impacts can cause. The 1/16th-inch flexible Kevlar shroud encloses the current fuel cell, protecting it from puncture. Contained within the Kevlar bladder is a special material that absorbs gasoline. The fuel cell bladder is reportedly the first of its kind in motorsports and, according to Van Norman, could help eliminate fire in “99 percent of the rear-end collisions that we’ve been seeing right now.” So far Van Norman and BSR Products President Butch Stevens have worked closely with NASCAR Winston Cup Director Gary Nelson in an effort to get the device approved for competition. The cell has already been run in the rear clip of Jason Jarrett’s #67 ARCA car in that series’ October Talladega race and has been subjected to destructive testing with water in the fuel cell.(Winston Cup Scene – need sub to read)(11-8-2001)
