Why are NASCAR steering wheels close and detachable? All you need to know

The steering wheels in NASCAR cars are close and detachable owing to safety and control purposes. Each part on a NASCAR stock car has a purpose. For some parts, such as a spoiler it's used to control the airflow over the car. Other parts, such as the window net, are mainly for safety precautions.

A steering wheel in a NASCAR stock car is obviously used to steer the car, but the way it's designed is mostly for a driver's safety. Steering wheels in NASCAR stock cars are both detachable and are positioned close to the driver.

Drivers sit close to the steering wheel to have better control of their race car. When racing closely beside other race cars at high speeds, it's important for a driver to be focused and have as much control as possible. It's also a safety precaution, as NASCAR has found that the tighter a driver is packed into a race car, the better for when they're involved in crashes.

Keeping a driver secured in a race car is a top priority in NASCAR, and sitting closer to the steering wheel benefits that.

Steering wheels in NASCAR stock cars are removable. Drivers insert the steering wheel into the car once they climbed into it. When the race is over, it's necessary for them to remove the steering wheel to get out of the car as it sits so close to them in the cockpit.

The main reason is for safety because the driver sits so tightly in the cockpit, it's important for the wheel to be removable for the driver to escape the car if necessary. These instances may happen in a violent wreck that causes a fire. For the driver to avoid serious burns from flames, they need to be able to exit the car quickly. If the steering wheel was irremovable, the driver would be stuck in a burning car.

Steering wheels have fallen off in NASCAR stock cars mid-race

While it's often a freak accident, there have been incidents where a steering wheel detaches during a race. In a qualifying run back in 2016 at Phoenix, seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson experienced this. As the now-semi-retired legend driver dove into turn one, the wheel disconnected, sending his car straight into the wall.

Johnson blamed himself for the incident, as he said via AP News:

“That sensation, the last time I had it was at Watkins Glen with no brakes. There are only a few moments in my racing career I’ve had that moment where you’re totally helpless and along for the ride.”

The same year at Talladega, Dale Earnhardt Jr. experienced the same as his steering wheel fell off. Luckily, the 15-time Most Popular Driver was able to get his steering wheel reattached after it became removed momentarily.