One of the basic rules of most sports is that they should be safe enough for all competitors to return home after the event. For most fans, a routine consequence of the sport they love isn't death. 

Unfortunately, the world of motorsports is quite different. Danger lurks in every corner, and one wrong move could be disastrous. Over the years, rulebooks have often been pretty light in the areas of safety and concern for the drivers' well-being.

But in 2000, NASCAR officials had a huge problem on their hands - multiple drivers were dying in the highest levels of the sport. Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin Jr had both passed away in the summer of 2000 at New Hampshire, and NASCAR was determined to improve safety before the race in September. Unfortunately, not every driver was on board. And some of that drama spilled out onto the track.

In this two part series, brothers J.D. and Derrick Smith take you back to a name where NASCAR was much more dangerous than it is today, and explore just how safe a racecar should be. They also took a look at one of the weirdest races in NASCAR history. 

In part two, coming next week, the guys will take a look at one of the more controversial solutions to safety NASCAR ever developed - the Car of Tomorrow. 

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