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One of my biggest pet peeves is the fact that many tracks and sanctioning bodies still use track workers and corner workers to run onto the track to direct traffic. With the use of Raceciver devices and modern lighting there is never a reason for a track to have a corner worker come onto the track. At one point there may have been a reason to have corner workers, but those days have past. All tracks should have good lighting that should keep the need for a person to run onto the track with a yellow or red flag. When I raced, I was always looking at the lights not the fool in the infield. The same way that at one time, we needed someone on the track directing traffic or pointing to a white board, now we can do that with a raceciver device.
I was not at Des Moines this weekend, nor have I ever been to the track. I do not know how close the track worker was to the track. However, I do know that I have been to many tracks and cringed on how close the track workers on to the track. This problem is just not with local tracks, there is a traveling series that I follow that still uses back straight flaggers that make me cringe as well. We really need to break this model. The risk/reward equation is just way out of control. Just ask the family in Des Moines.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/motor/auto-racing/2014/05/23/state-fairgrounds-race-crash/9524321/
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