Barbara Nesbitt's horrifying experience at zMax Dragway during the recent NMCA/NMRA event has inspired a change in safety procedures at the drag strip.

Nesbitt, who who suffered extensive injuries to her right arm when the drive shaft on her car broke and came through the floorboard. Because no one could tell serious injury had occurred, safety crews were not dispatched immediately.

Christian Byrd, General Manager for zMax Dragway, said even though his crew followed the proper protocol for a stalled race car, which was all Nesbitt’s car appeared to be, zMax has changed its protocol.

Barbara Nesbitt's horrifying experience at zMax Dragway during the recent NMCA/NMRA event has inspired a change in safety procedures at the drag strip.

Nesbitt, who who suffered extensive injuries to her right arm when the drive shaft on her car broke and came through the floorboard. Because no one could tell serious injury had occurred, safety crews were not dispatched immediately.

Christian Byrd, General Manager for zMax Dragway, said even though his crew followed the proper protocol for a stalled race car, which was all Nesbitt’s car appeared to be, zMax has changed its protocol.

“One of the things we looked at was the ability for our track officials to really assess the situation,” Byrd said. “In the case of Barbara’s accident, there was no visual cue that she needed any medical attention. Therefore, we thought the best remedy was basically put a first responder, an EMT, a trained firefighter, or a medic on the Four-wheeler that actually tows the cars off the track. We will put him at the top end of the track and he will be the first one to the scene, whether it be just an everyday tow off and the rear-end is locked up or it is an actual medical emergency. We feel this is a protocol everyone should consider out there as the best practice for the sport of drag racing.”

Byrd says Nesbitt’s accident was a learning experience for zMax and has contributed to the improvement of the safety of the facility.

“Everyone is going to make mistakes and that’s OK, but learn from mistakes,” Byrd said. “Not that we made one (a mistake) in this event, but we saw something and took advantage of the opportunity to improve the safety of the competitors, and we will continue to make these types of improvements. We all agree that there is room to improve out there and we want to be on the leading edge of making drag racing a safer sport as well as growing the sport. You have to keep everybody around to do that.”

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