Phoenix to install tire pack along inside of Turn 4 wall

Two more NASCAR tracks are reacting to the Kyle Busch crash two weeks ago.

Phoenix International Raceway announced Wednesday that it will install a "tire pack barrier" along the interior wall of Turn 4 preceding the CampingWorld.com 500 Sprint Cup race March 15. PIR is owned by International Speedway Corp.

The decision was made, according to a release, after a review by ISC and NASCAR officials.

"The additional protective barrier represents PIR's ongoing commitment to providing a safe racing environment for its drivers, teams and fans," PIR president Bryan R. Sperber said in a statement.

"PIR will continue to work in tandem with NASCAR to expedite the adoption of additional impact-absorbing technologies, as deemed necessary, at our facility."

Las Vegas Motor Speedway, site of NASCAR racing this weekend, also announced modifications and the need for further study. LVMS is owned by Speedway Motorsports Inc.

Both ISC and fellow major promoter SMI have been scurrying to assess and bolster the impact-mitigating systems of their track walls since Sprint Cup driver Busch suffered a compound fracture of his right leg and a broken left foot in an Xfinity Series crash at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 21.

Chris Powell, the president and general manager of Las Vegas Motor Speedway, says that his team will continue to put even more onus on making the track a safer place for drivers.

"We worked with NASCAR to conduct a thorough inspection and review of the existing barriers here at Las Vegas Motor Speedway," Powell said. "Following those discussions, we began work to make modifications to the barriers at openings on pit road as well as a cutout area near turn three of the speedway. At the conclusion of this weekend's Kobalt 400 and Boyd Gaming 300, we will collaborate further to review the facility and make the best safety solutions available for Las Vegas Motor Speedway. We remain committed to providing the safest racing conditions possible."

But even with new tire barriers added by SMI along the inside of the Turn 4 wall at Atlanta Motor Speedway, driver Jeff Gordon had a hard impact into a concrete wall on the backstretch Sunday.​ He was not injured.

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