Impact Racing settles lawsuit

Motorsports safety pioneer Bill Simpson can continue to sell his Impact Racing products in the NASCAR garage as he has settled claims by the SFI Foundation over the alleged use of counterfeit labels designating that Impact firesuits had met SFI specifications. SFI had sued Impact in federal court in Indiana over the claims, but SFI and Impact sent out a joint news release Friday saying they had come to a settlement.

“SFI Foundation and Impact Racing are pleased to announce they have resolved their differences," the release stated. “Impact will remain a participant in the SFI programs in exchange for certain consideration and under revised contracts. The parties look forward to a constructive working relationship to benefit the racing industry and to promote the safety of its participants.

“Impact agrees and accepts that the SFI specifications are state of the art and promote a high level of safety and performance in the auto racing industry. Impact acknowledges that in prior years it did not fully comply with SFI’s specifications, however these problems have been resolved. The terms of the agreement between the parties are confidential."

The SFI Foundation, of which NASCAR is a member, sets standards for the safety of uniforms, head-and-neck restraints, seat belts and other products. It had sought permission from the courts to terminate its contract with Impact to certify Impact products. If the contracts had been terminated, NASCAR teams would no longer have been able to buy several Impact products because NASCAR requires many safety products to have SFI approval.

SFI had accused Impact in two separate lawsuits of buying counterfeit HANS Device clips to put on helmets and for purchasing fake SFI certification labels to put on uniforms. SFI sells the labels to fund its research, according to court documents.

Simpson has blamed and sued a former firesuit production manager for purchasing the counterfeit labels and said he had no knowledge of the purchases, according to court documents. SFI had alleged that Simpson had directed his employees to buy the counterfeit labels to cut costs. Scenedaily.com