A recent California 200 race, that killed eight spectators, is raising questions on why promoters of the race failed to keep spectators away from danger. While people were told to stay 100 feet away and on only one side of the track, there were no law enforcement officers to enforce the rules. Officials with the California Highway Patrol said the truck came to rest less than 10 feet from the racecourse.

Over 100 such events are held annually on federal land. When the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issues a permit, stipulations in the permit required the promoter to keep speeding racers more than 50 feet from "any social group." The BLM's job is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of public lands. Their agents investigate and prevent crimes against property, but are not directly involved with the enforcement of rules during events.

David Briery, BLM spokesman, said it was too early to say if the agency would change its permit rules to ensure stricter enforcement of safety requirements. Senators have asked the BLM director to provide information about penalties imposed on race organizers who violate their permits, whether the agency collects data on safety violations and how that information is used.