Crash course

Michael McDowell, a rookie NASCAR Sprint Cup driver with Michael Waltrip Racing, explains a NASCAR safety device, the HANS, which secures the driver’s head and neck, Thursday at the Metropolitan Community College-Blue River Campus Precision Driving Center in Independence. Earlier this year, McDowell was involved in a hard crash during qualifying for a Sprint Cup race and walked away with minor injuries.

McDowell also maneuvered a police car through an obstacle course and performed a chase sequence during a visit to discuss NASCAR safety with law enforcement and MCC-Blue River students.