#12-Ryan Newman yesterday told the American College of Sports Medicine that NASCAR does an “overall excellent” job when it comes to driver safety but took the association to task in one area. Newman said NASCAR is remiss in not appointing a permanent safety and medical crew to travel the circuit, work crashes and provide medical attention for injured drivers. “It’s a no-brainer, and I’m 100 percent in favor of it,” said Newman, who addressed a seminar which was part of the ACSM’s three-day meeting at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center [Nashville, TN]. “It’s simple. If you had to travel across the U.S. every year and had to see different doctors each place you went, would that be as good as having a doctor traveling with you who knows your medical history?” NASCAR currently permits each track to provide its own safety and medical personnel on a race-by-race basis. NASCAR, represented at yesterday’s meeting by Gary Nelson, vice president of research and development, has said it will consider implementing a permanent traveling safety and medical crew.(Tennessean)(6-3-2005)
