Dean Sicking, former director of the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, was honored with the Landmark Award for his contributions to stock-car racing during the NASCAR Hall of Fame ceremony. Sicking and his team invented the SAFER barrier system, which is now standard at NASCAR and IndyCar tracks, saving drivers’ lives over the past two decades. The achievement was featured in over 130 national media outlets, with racing mogul Tony George approaching Sicking in 1998 to design a “soft” wall for high-speed crashes. The system was introduced in 2002 after years of testing and iteration.
Sicking’s recognition also includes the Bill France Award of Excellence in 2003 and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President George W. Bush in 2005. The Midwest Roadside Safety Facility team, including current director Ron Faller, was honored at an event at the NASCAR Research and Development Center. Sicking expressed gratitude for the recognition and the opportunity to work with his team on the SAFER barrier system, which has had a significant impact on driver safety in racing.
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