NASCAR announces updates to concussion protocol

Through its new partnership with American Medical Response (AMR), NASCAR has announced updates to their concussion protocol for all three national divisions.

“NASCAR has worked very closely with the industry to ensure our concussion protocol reflects emerging best practices in this rapidly developing area of sports medicine,” said Jim Cassidy, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations. “We will continue to utilize relationships we’ve had for years with leaders in the neurological research field who helped to shape these updates.”

Among the updates is a mandatory trip to the Infield Care Center for all drivers involved in wrecks and are forced to take their cars to the garage, regardless of if they were able to drive back. Prior to the new protocol, drivers were not required to be evaluated. 

Infield Care Center physicians will now use the SCAT-3 diagnostic tool (Sports Concussion Assessment Tool) in screening for head injuries and concussion-related symptoms. In addition, AMR will provide a neurological consultant on-site in select events as the series works to enhance and develop their concussion protocol.

According to Denny Hamlin, the Driver Council has been very involved in improving NASCAR's concussion protocol and urged for more consistency. Hamlin cited the Matt DiBenedetto case from last fall at Texas Motor Speedway where a local physician did not follow NASCAR procedure and sidelined the driver.  DiBenedetto disagreed with the decision. He was supported by fellow drivers, including Brad Keselowski.

"We always wondered, is it just based off of how the doctor is feeling that day or what is the actual protocol? In the NFL, they go through step one, step two, step three when you're on the sideline," Hamlin added. "If you don't pass that, you go to tot he locker room and you go through the certain steps again. We always wondered, what is that certain step and it's not just about how does this guy look.

"They sometimes have to protect us from ourselves, but we also want to make sure we're racing on the track with people that are 100%. So I'm all for that and I think it's important that we keep safety first. This sport has really evolved over the last 20 years and there's been very good results because of it. I think this is just another step to make sure everybody has taken the proper stops, not leaving any stone unturned."