Contact
June Malone
Media Relations Department
(256) 544-0034
june.malone@msfc.nasa.gov

Release: 00-297

NASCAR's Bobby Allison to talk about safety at Marshall Center's Safety Awareness Day Oct. 25

What's the first step to protect NASCAR drivers?

Safety.

Retired NASCAR driver Bobby Allison will talk about how NASCAR has made safety a priority in racing at the annual Safety Awareness Day, Oct. 25, at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

According to Allison, there's nothing that carries as great a peril as NASCAR racing. Unless, of course, you're talking about human space flight.

"I see the strong parallel between racing and spaceflight," says Allison. "To achieve the goal - whether it's winning a race or exploring space -- you have to recognize risk and accept it. But, take every precaution possible."

Allison -- one of two keynote speakers for Marshall's Safety Awareness Day - was the 1983 Winston Cup Champion, a three-time winner of the prestigious Daytona 500 and won 84 NASCAR Winston Cup races. The daylong event planned for NASA employees and contractors is dedicated to safety issues -- including work, home and recreational safety.

"Preserving the safety of our astronauts is of the utmost importance to Marshall," said Jody Singer, assistant manager of the Space Shuttle Project and co-chair of Safety Awareness Day. "Diligent attention to detail and strict process controls are critical to the Shuttle launch system's safe and reliable performance."

Also on the Safety Day program is John Drebinger Jr., author of "Mastering Safety Communication." Drebinger -- a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers -- uses magic and group participation to give motivational safety messages. He has made presentations to such companies as United Space Alliance, Boeing, Lucent Technologies and the U.S. Postal Service.

More than 100 Marshall employees and contractors will receive Safety Excellence Awards at a special ceremony during the day. In addition, employees can participate in the Safety and Health Fair that includes more than 66 local participants - emphasizing issues such as breast cancer awareness and boating safety.

NASA astronauts Ellen Baker, Stanley Love, Chris Ferguson and Rex Walheim plan to attend the day's activities. The Marshall Center is NASA's lead center for development of space transportation and propulsion systems.

Marshall manages the propulsion systems for the Space Shuttle, which include the Main Engines, the External Tank, the Reusable Solid Rocket Motors and the Solid Rocket Boosters.

Note to Editors/News Directors: Retired NASCAR racer Bobby Allison will be available for interviews immediately following his speech - at approximately 10 a.m. --in Building 4752. News media wishing to cover the event should call June Malone of the Marshall Media Relations Office at (256) 544-0034.