HANS Device Slow to Take Hold

Increased safety dominated conversation in days leading to Sunday’s Dura-Lube 400 at North Carolina Speedway at Rockingham, N.C., but many of the NASCAR drivers calling for it still weren’t willing to use a controversial new device in the race.

The HANS (Head and Neck Support) device received prominent mention after Dale Earnhardt was killed in a crash in the Daytona 500 a week ago Sunday. The U-shaped device is designed to protect drivers from head and neck injuries.

Only six drivers used the device in the Daytona 500. This week, 14 drivers had it at the track. Five drivers said Saturday they would use the HANS device in the race--Brett Bodine, Ricky Craven, Andy Houston, Dale Jarrett and Jerry Nadeau. Houston didn’t qualify for the 43-car field.

The race was postponed after 52 laps because of rain and will resume today. There was one crash, Dale Earnhardt Jr. slamming into the wall on the first lap. Earnhardt Jr. emerged from the car unhurt. Five other drivers were involved in the crash but not injured.

Jeff Gordon, the race’s pole-sitter, commented on the HANS device Saturday, pointing out that many of the drivers find it too bulky and uncomfortable and still have too many questions about it to use it.

The Associated Press and Orlando Sentinel contributed to this story.