Brad Keselowski, the 2012 NASCAR champion and co-owner of RFK Racing, has drawn attention to a growing injury trend among Cup Series drivers.
The shift from traditional steering boxes to rack-and-pinion setups, he explains, funnels more mechanical energy into the driver’s arms, wrists and fingers, a change that many feel is behind the uptick in soft-tissue injuries.
The New Physical Reality in NASCAR
Christopher Bell’s recent crash at Michigan International Speedway illustrates the problem; the impact forced him to break his left wrist, an injury that will sideline him for roughly six weeks.
Bell’s ordeal has already seen him finish 26th at Pocono after a daring fuel-mileage gamble, and he will miss the upcoming street-course event at Naval Base Coronado, where a relief driver will take the wheel. He is also slated to sit out the Sonoma Raceway road-course event, with the same substitute expected to handle duties.
The recovery window of six weeks is complicated by the unique cockpit demands of the new cars. Bell must now shift gears with his right hand while keeping his left hand on the steering wheel, a maneuver that requires a specially molded cast.
OrthoCarolina has crafted a custom cast to fit the steering wheel, and veteran road‑racer Max Papis has assisted in tweaking the wheel’s ergonomics to accommodate Bell’s injured hand.