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Dale Earnhardt's Tragic Death Raises Issues of Racing Safety

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: The grieving for Dale Earnhardt goes on, as family and friends -- fans, rather -- say farewell to one of racing's greatest stars.

NASCAR says the roar of the speedway will not fall silent. This weekend's Winston Cup race in Rockingham, North Carolina, will run as planned, though the death of Dale Earnhardt will likely weigh heavily on that event. No funeral plans for Earnhardt have been announced yet. But fans from across the country are gathering for their own cheerful memorials to the falling racing legend.

Supporters stood watch through the night outside the Daytona International Speedway, where Earnhardt died Sunday in a crash on the final lap of the Daytona 500. And in the capital of NASCAR country, Mooresville, North Carolina, fans left flowers and goodbyes outside the headquarters of Dale Earnhardt, Incorporated.

Now, despite Earnhardt's death, the rumbling engines continue thundering across the Atlanta Motor Speedway. NASCAR racers are testing the track for the upcoming Cracker Barrel 500. That's three weeks away. Drivers say they're still in shock. But the race must go on. Later today, racing will give way to remembrance when the speedway holds a public memorial service for the seven-time -- seven- time, rather -- Winston Cup champion -- Carol.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Dale Earnhardt's death has revived questions about the safety of the sport and what can be done to protect drivers zipping around crowded tracks at speeds of more than 150 miles an hour. Some believe a new innovation, the HANS, short for head-and-neck support, could save lives.

It features a brace to keep the head from snapping forward during a crash. Only six of the 43 drivers at Daytona were wearing the HANS helmet.

Paul Kenney with CNN affiliate of WAGA in Atlanta has more on that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL KENNEY, WAGA REPORTER (voice-over): In a sport where speed is the driving force to victory, safety on the track can oftentimes get lost in the pack. Dale Earnhardt's deadly crash at Daytona 500 has the racing world talking safety. JIM DOWNING, HANS CREATOR: Flip it over the back of your neck and pull it on.

KENNEY: Jim Downing created a safety device specifically designed for race car drivers, known as the HANS, which stands for head-and-neck support.

DOWNING: You can go this far and not have any damage. But there's a point past that that you break your neck. It's about that simple. This just limits the movement of your head and keeps it close to your body.

KENNEY: This is what the HANS looks like without the helmet. It's designed to prevent the driver's head from whipping forward in a crash, which can cause the base of the skull to fracture.

DOWNING: The last three deaths last year were basilar skull fractures. That means that last little tip of the skull where it connects to the spine broke off.

KENNEY: Even though the device has been around 10 years, only 600 have sold. Downing says Earnhardt knew the technology, but wasn't interested. He believes it might have increased his odds of survival.

DOWNING: He's old school. He's been racing for 30 years. He -- you know, we're all human beings. And we develop our little defense mechanisms. And, you know, none of us thought he would ever be hurt, right?

KENNEY: NASCAR and most other racing circuits have never taken a position on head and neck support, leaving it up to the drivers. But Earnhardt's death might change that. Downing received 50 orders from drivers, more than he normally gets in a month.

DOWNING: It really should be a standard piece of equipment that you put on, just like you put on your shoes and socks.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: That was Paul Kenney of CNN affiliate WAGA in Atlanta.

Now, of course, as you know by now, Dale Earnhardt was called "The Intimidator," an aggressive driver who could ride an opponent's bumper and then suddenly surge for the lead. It's a job that requires an almost fighter-pilot mentality and one that fosters a unique bond between fellow competitors.

Liz Allison knows that mind-set well. Her husband, Davey Allison, was a rising star on the NASCAR circuit until his career was cut short in a helicopter crash back in 1993. But she joins us now from Nashville.

Good morning, Liz.

LIZ ALLISON, WIDOW OF DAVEY ALLISON: Good morning, Carol. LIN: I know you've been very dear friends of the Earnhardt family for more than a dozen years. Have you talked with Dale Earnhardt's wife, Teresa, and if so, how is she?

ALLISON: I have not talked to Theresa. I know that she is going through a lot right now and it's just chaos in her life. And I've just decided to step back and give her a few days to get all of the arrangements made. And then I'll be in touch with her. And we'll be seeing them towards the end of the week.

LIN: You know, you were the one who actually who described to us this fighter-pilot's mentality as these drivers get into the car. Your husband, Davey, witnessed his own father's debilitating accident. And he lost his brother to the sport. At a certain point, does it not get to be fun anymore? Why did he continue on with his career?

ALLISON: I think that, again, the fighter-pilot mentality is a good way to describe it. These guys are racers. They were taught to be racers. And they have a whole different way of thinking than we do. And it's hard for us to understand. And you would think that there would be fear there. But they don't think about the fear.

They think about the sport that they love and what they want to do more than anything. And so they put it in the back of their mind. And they get in the car and they strap in and they go. It's -- for the most of us, it's the family and friends that have the fear for them. And Davey always said: If you develop fear, then it's time to get out of the car.

LIN: You know, I really wondered about what that mentality was like until I read a story here about your own husband, after a very serious accident, I think, in the last year in his life, and he went in for several surgeries, and they actually had to bring him back, put him in the car, and they velcroed his hands to the gear shift so he could drive? Is that true?

ALLISON: That's right. That was the Talladega race. And, again, it's something that's hard for us to understand. But, for him, he was just concerned about the Winston Cup points. And he had a good run on that. And knew that if he didn't start the race, which is NASCAR's rules -- the drivers have to start the race and make a lap to hold the points in their name -- that he knew he had to do that. So he started the race. They velcroed his wrists to the gear shift.

And he had broken ribs. And he was screaming out in pain climbing in the car, and strapped it on, and then got back out in the first caution.

LIN: Did he wear the safety helmet when he was driving?

ALLISON: He did not. And I know...

LIN: He did not.

ALLISON: He did not. I know there's a lot of talk about that now. And it is a great device. And I know there's pros and cons to it. And the only thing I can say about that is, in an accident like Dale's, the impact is so strong, you know, who knows if the HANS device could have taken that type of an impact?

LIN: But do you think that NASCAR should take responsibility now and say to its drivers: We are making it mandatory that you wear the safety helmet; it could save lives?

ALLISON: It could save lives. And I think that is a definite step that they will look into at this point. I know another series that it is mandatory. And NASCAR's first priority is safety. And I know that this will definitely be something that will be looked into deeper and that they will definitely talk to the driver's more about it. There are pros and cons to this device. And that' something that they have to look at as well.

LIN: Yes. And, Liz -- and you wonder how many drivers will be wearing those safety helmets come Sunday at the next NASCAR race.

ALLISON: Yes, you do.

LIN: Thanks so much for joining us this morning.

ALLISON: Thank you.

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