Bill Simpson

Simpson started in drag racing and SCCA Formula racing, eventually moving up to the USAC Championship Car series. He raced in the 1968–1974 and 1976–1977 seasons, with 52 career starts. He qualified twentieth for the 1974 Indianapolis 500, and finished thirteenth. He finished in the top-ten 11 times, with his best finish in sixth position in 1970 at Milwaukee. He decided to end his racing career in 1977, because he started to think about a telephone call that he needed to make while he was practicing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Later career

After leaving Simpson Performance Products, Bill Simpson realized that he still had much to contribute to improving driver safety. After a one-year non-compete with Simpson Performance Products expired, he started Impact! Racing in 2002. In addition to the drag chutes and Nomex underwear that Bill Simpson first introduced to racing, Impact! began to manufacture restraints, helmets, race suits, shoes, and gloves for Formula One, NHRA, NASCAR, IndyCar, and other racing applications. In 2010, Simpson sold Impact! Racing to Robbie Pierce and MasterCraft Safety.

Earnhardt controversy

Simpson Performance Products was involved in a controversy after the February 2001 death of Dale Earnhardt over whether the seat belt manufactured by the company had malfunctioned. NASCAR's initial investigation into the crash in part blamed seat belt failure; eventually the series moved to institute long called for safety standards, such as mandated use of the HANS device.

Simpson received death threats and bullets into his house, which led to his resignation in July 2001. Simpson sued NASCAR for $8.5 million defamation of character suit in February 2003, later withdrawing it after receiving an undisclosed settlement.