I also believe the lack of a full face helmet played a significant role in his death, Dale being the only driver in the race wearing an open face, to the consternation of Nascar, and it's nuanced IMO his face struck the steering wheel, something a HANS would have mitigated. This is also why I believe, the first person's reaction to Dale's wrecked car understood the obvious seriousness of Dale's injuries, and why autopsy photos were so diligently guarded.
NASCAR no longer allowed open face helmets on the track.
I agree. We were at that race and I watched through binoculars Kenny Schrader's reaction. I told my cousin that it must be bad. Later in an interview Kenny commented that "a person should never have to see a friend like that".
What got me was nascars reaction, it took the death of their star to get a reaction. It's like the deaths of the three young drivers from the same type of injury was only a minor inconvenience to them. That was the end for nascar with me.
