The Midwest Roadside Safety Facility (MwRSF) is a research organization under the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Nebraska Transportation Center. The center’s main focus is on highway design and safety, which often includes crash barriers. One of MwRSF most well known accomplishments was developed not for the highway of everyday drivers, but the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The SAFER (steel-and-foam energy-reduction) Barrier was developed by MwRSF in a project led by Dr. Dean Sickling as part of the “safety revolution” after the three deaths occurring within a six-month span in NASCAR racing in 2000 and 2001. One of these deaths included Dale Earnhardt, seven-time Cup champion known as The Intimidator. February 18 marked the 20th anniversary of Earnhardt’s death and the beginning of a series of changes experts estimate has saved dozens of lives. FOX Sports shared a video and written article to commemorate Earnhardt and the safety measures implemented in NASCAR racing during the past two decades, including the SAFER Barrier.
The full story can by found at https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nascar/dale-earnhardt-daytona-500-death-anniversary.
