[RyanNewmanfango#12]

When did the nomex fire suit first come in onto the nascar scene?

[Bob Tanner]

I can give you a close approximation.

Dupont was working on NOMEX in the early 60's as a way to protect firemen. In 1964 the fiery wreck at the Indy 500 which killed Eddie Sachs and Dave McDonald broadened the scope of the need for a fire retardant clothing. A brushed-on retardant was mandated at Indy in 1965 (I believe) and NOMEX itself was first introduced in 1967. My best guess is that NASCAR adopted NOMEX probably in the early 1970's.

I know it wasn't as early as 1969 because I have a couple pictures showing David Pearson driving a H-M Ford in a short sleeve shirt and Bill France, in a similar shirt, practicing a #53 Ford prior to the first Talladega race. So, I'd put the answer to your question in a 1970-1974 window. That's the best that I can do with limited research.

[Bob Tanner]

More information: The following was C&P'd from our good friend Wikipedia:
requiring anti-spill bladders in fuel cells and improved fire-retardant driver suits following the death of Glen "Fireball" Roberts.

Fireball was killed in 1964.

The first fire retardant was a brush on goo which hardened the material and made them air-tight. Many drivers flatly refused to wear them and NASCAR didn't really push the issue. The first NOMEX suits weren't much better. A bit softer but still were uncomfortable, especially in the Southern heat and humidity.

Insofar as you specified NOMEX I'm going to stick with my "very early 70's" SWAG until someone finds something I've missed.

Thanks for the question. It was a good one and made me research some.

[Racer Duck]

I don't know when the "mandate" came, but when my brother drove his first "Grand National" in the spring Talladega of '72, he was wearing a "fire suit". And he had never worn one before that. So, if it wasn't mandated, it was certainly recommended.