A critical but often overlooked safety issue has recently gained attention in the NASCAR community: the position of helmet visors during races and qualifying. While these visors are designed to provide necessary protection in case of fire, the current rules contain a significant loophole that could put drivers at risk.
NASCAR regulations require drivers to wear helmet visors, but they don’t explicitly mandate that they be kept down during competition. This creates a dangerous gray area where drivers can technically comply with the rule while compromising their safety by raising their visors at specific points during a race.
NASCAR’s Safety Rules Have a Visor-Shaped Loophole
“The rule is the visor must be on the helmet. Obviously, NASCAR can see the video, so they can see drivers with it up,” says NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass.
“If they feel it is an issue, would expect a tweak to the rule. The hard part is need to be able to have it up to wipe your eyes, possibly at times, or eat/drink.” Pockrass added, hinting that NASCAR might soon take a closer look at this issue.
The rule is the visor must be on the helmet. Obviously NASCAR can see the video so they can see drivers with it up. If they feel it is an issue, would expect a tweak to the rule. The hard part is need to be able to have it up to wipe your eyes possibly at times or eat/drink. https://t.co/xHBOMBiJZG
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 26, 2025
It’s easy to understand why drivers sometimes lift their visors. When the car moves slowly, they must wipe sweat from their eyes, grab a drink, or get some fresh air. However, most drivers keep their visors down at high speeds because the wind makes it uncomfortable and dangerous to do otherwise.
The genuine concern is fire safety. These visors aren’t just for show; they’re designed to shield drivers’ faces from flames and flying debris during crashes. When a driver’s visor is up, that protection disappears.
NASCAR has tightened up safety rules in other areas over the years. Teams now use advanced fireproof clothing and helmets. After several scary incidents, officials ruled that pit crew members must keep their face shields down during refueling stops because people got hurt when fuel caught fire and their shields were up.
This visor rule gap stands out for a sport that’s made tremendous safety advances. NASCAR has improved many safety features, from fireproof suits to better helmets for drivers and crews, but this issue hasn’t been addressed yet.
As NASCAR continues evolving its safety standards, fixing this oversight could prevent injuries and show that the sport is serious about protecting its drivers. This safety flaw remains hidden in plain sight, but probably not much longer.