When people think of NASCAR, their minds conjure up images of fast cars going around in circles à la Mattel Hot Wheels. Like their miniature plastic versions, racecars seem nearly-invincible until there is a major collision. Only then are new safety rules invoked. One of the latest safety implements consisted of Steel and Foam Energy Reduction barrier technology following Dale Earnhardt’s fatal crash in 2001.

These SAFER barriers are currently installed on every track in NASCAR’s top series, but major flaws exist in the system, according to the Associated Press.

One example is Jeff Gordon’s crash last Sunday on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Although he emerged unharmed, Gordon spun into one of the track’s inner walls after car-to-car contact. The Speedway had only implemented SAFER technology on the outer barriers. The transmission was ripped from what team owner Rick Hendrick referred to as an “eight-million-dollar car.”

To make matters worse, the wall that Gordon hit curved inward because it was also an entrance/exit for safety access. He slammed into the barrier almost head-on, an unlikely scenario on most tracks.

Hendrick, according to AP, believes that NASCAR should not return to the Speedway until the equipment is fixed. With this statement, Hendrick highlights what is faulty with the NASCAR system. Everyone knows that racing teams must spend hundreds of dollars to ensure that their drivers are safe, while one rarely reads about tracks facing inspections or repercussions in the media.

Those who profit from providing a site for a sporting event need to undergo the same rigorous inspections. They should also face the same repercussions for not keeping as up-to-date as the teams that sponsor racers do. After all, world class racers like Jeff Gordon, who bring money, fans and media popularity and act as role models for younger generations, deserve respect — particularly regarding safety — for their devotion.