Why does NASCAR promote the safer barrier as theirs?

Unlike other posters here, I have definitely heard NASCAR broadcasters claim that the SAFER barrier was/is a major stock car racing innovation. Why do they do it? Simple. Because fans like them let them get away with such a lie. That's the same reason no official apology has been made by anybody (including her) after "NASCAR's own" Danica Patrick was introduced at last year's ESPY Awards. As long as NASCAR has fans willing to give them plausible deniability along with their dollars, what incentive do they have to tell the truth?

FWIW, that first soft wall technology failed miserably when Arie Luyendyk hit it hard during the 1998 Indy IROC race. See the video link below for the proof. Not only did it break apart, litter the track with its remnants and gave Luyendyk a concussion, the crash it was supposed to dampen also injured two spectators (according to CNN/SI). Since then, the new version of SAFER barrier is much better.

They never have claimed responsibility for the safer barrier, and it was discussed and explained how the barrier was developed ad nauseam as they were being installed at the tracks. It would be a little redundant at this point to go through the whole thing every time somebody hits the wall hard. NASCAR's involvement is actually a little deeper than that, because it had to be tested and studied to make sure it would withstand the impact of a 3400 pound stock car as opposed to the light weight open wheel cars.

The Hans device was also available at the time of Earnhardt's wreck, not sure what your point is there.

It took the loss of a star driver to make it happen, but I am very glad NASCAR took the steps to improve driver safety both with and without technology from outside sources.

Never once have I ever heard anyone from NASCAR take credit for the safer barriers. They were made mandatory after the Earnhardt crash but still no one from NASCAR too credit for them. They do all say thank God for the safer barriers after a big and brutal crash like Martin Truex Jr. just had.

I don't think they do. They are just proud that they were able to install them at every track for safety, they never claim that NASCAR invented them.

you just hear a lot more about them being associated with NASCAR because people actually watch it, unlike the IRL.