SPECIAL REPORT: Dirt track racing is fun, fast, and in some cases, fatal

EL PASO, Texas – Short track dirt racing is fun, fast, and, in some cases, fatal.

It’s considered to be like a “little brother” of NASCAR. However, unlike racing’s top realm, there is no national governing body that regulates short track racing. So, safety is often left up to the individual racer.

In a heartbreaking instance, 15-year old Niokoa Johnson was killed in a race in central Florida. She wasn’t wearing a head and neck restraint – a device that is mandatory in NASCAR. Johnson broke her neck and died the next day. She was 15 years old.

Back in the Borderland, driver Christy “No Mercy” Barnett had a near-fatal call herself recently when a metal pipe came flying through her windowless car.

“A few weeks ago, I was in the car racing in Las Cruces, and a projectile came through the front,” says Barnett. “If I had not had this helmet on, I probably would not be standing here.”

She was almost another casualty of racing’s most dangerous iteration – short track racing.

Since 2002, zero NASCAR drivers on the premier circuit have died while racing in a NASCAR event. In that same span, 141 drivers have died on shorter, dirt tracks, according to date compiled the The New York Times in May.

“Well, I mean look at NASCAR. I mean, they spend millions and millions of dollars on safety,” said Rue Stone, general manager of two dirt tracks in the Borderland.

Stone says that his tracks take safety precautions that others don’t. But there is still no way they can compete with NASCAR in terms of safety.

“Little dirt tracks are going to be able to do that. But we go as far as we possibly can, you know,” said Stone.

One of the most notable differences between NASCAR and short track racing is the fact NASCAR requires drivers to where head and neck restraints also known as HANS devices.

Drivers like Christy are responsible enough to wear a HANS device.

“I don’t go in the car without my head and neck restraints. Period,” she says. “I spend more money on safety equipment than I do on the car.”

But as safe as Christy is, she’s still had plenty of close calls, including the pipe that nearly took her life a few weeks ago.

“Oh yeah, I’ve had worse things happen, so it’s not that big a deal,” she says calmly. “Gotta get used to it when you dirt track race.”

Stone manages both Southern New Mexico Speedway and Western Tech Speedway Park. He says he often travels to other dirt tracks that “could use some upgrades.” His tracks, however, include safety precautions that others don’t. Both tracks include catch fences to stop debris from flying into the stands. Stone says he also makes sure both tracks are staffed with fire and safety crews that have the most up-to-date gear possible.