As others have said, the catch fence did its job and remarkably well for have a 190 mph 3500lb projectile sent into it. To me, the issue is the hole that was left behind and what could get through that or what happens when that car hits up higher on the fence next time. I agree that the racers and crew members have a sound understanding that this is an inherently risky business. Most drivers and crew members at one point or another have had that close call moment.

Spectators have a different level of safety expectancy. There is a reason Knoxville, Outlaws, Allstars etc have gone to safety tethers for the front axels. Can you imagine the damage that would have been done if that front axel assembly that ended up in the stands not too long ago at Knoxville happened during the nationals? Have you noticed that the Indycars haven't been back to Charlotte after several spectators were killed by debris and that tethers were mandated after that wreck?

Given the fact that NASCAR has had multiple close calls with cars getting though the fence with the restrictor plate races, the lawyers will have a hayday when it does happen. Everyone from the sanctioning body to the drivers will be named in the lawsuit. As others have mentioned, risk management folks at the insurance will be walking away from us like the plague. We have seen that a driver can have a successful lawsuit against a track, parts manufactures, and sanctioning bodies(Wolfgang) and I know of a car owner who was sued because the hub on the RR broke and the loose wheel broke a person's leg in the pits. Good, bad or indifferent, we don't live in the 50's-70's anymore.