Race Car Window Nets & Kits

What Do Race Car Window Nets Do?

Race car window nets keep your arms, hands and head inside the car during a crash or rollover. They also help block debris from coming through the driver's window opening.

In a hard hit, your body wants to follow the car's momentum. Without a net, an arm can swing out the window and get pinned or struck. That's why the net works as part of a system. Pair it with properly mounted racing seat belts and harnesses and arm, head and neck restraints that keep you planted in the seat.

Many sanctioning bodies and tracks require a window net, and some spell out the type, rating and mounting method. Rules change by class and by season, so check your current rulebook before you buy. On a new build, plan the net, mounts and latch around your cage layout. Shop all roll bar padding and window nets to outfit the whole cockpit.

Ribbon vs. Mesh Racing Window Nets

Ribbon and mesh nets do the same job, but they differ in construction and look. Here's how the main styles compare:

• Ribbon window nets use woven strips of webbing laid out in a grid pattern.
• Mesh window nets use netting with smaller openings between the strands.
• Angle, square, oblong and trapezoid shapes help you match different window openings.

You'll see both styles across the lineup. G-Force offers an Angle Ribbon Window Net, while Allstar Performance makes a square ribbon net and an oblong SFI 27.1 net. RJS Racing Equipment builds a Grand National ribbon net rated to SFI 27.1.

If you want mesh, RaceQuip window nets include an SFI 27.1 mesh net that measures 15 in. H x 18 in. W. Other common sizes include 18 x 24 in. and 18 x 18 in. Whichever you choose, measure your opening before you pick a ribbon window net or a mesh window net.

SFI 27.1 vs. Non-SFI Window Nets

An SFI 27.1 window net is certified to the SFI Foundation's window net specification and carries a label to prove it. A non-SFI net isn't certified, so it only makes sense where your rules don't call for a rating.

Tech inspectors look for that label. If your rulebook calls for SFI 27.1, a non-SFI net won't pass, no matter how clean the install is. Some classes and tracks leave the choice to you, and that's where a non-SFI net can fit your budget. Prices vary by style and rating, so compare options with the SFI Rating filter on this page.

SFI-rated gear also has date-based certification. The label shows when the net was made, and that date decides how long it stays legal for competition. Before you buy a new net or reuse an old one, read up on how long SFI-rated parts last before recertification. It's an easy check that can save you a failed inspection.

How to Choose a Window Net Kit and Mounting Hardware

Start with the rules, then work through fit and hardware. Check these points before you add a window net kit to your cart:

• Measure the window opening and compare it to the listed net dimensions.
• Match the SFI rating to what your sanctioning body requires.
• Confirm how the net attaches to your cage and door bars.
• Choose a window net latch that you and safety crews can release quickly.

A bare net assumes you already have mounting hardware in the car. If you don't, plan for a window net mounting kit and a quick-release latch. RJS offers an installation kit for oblong window nets, and you'll find more mount kits and latches in window net mounts.

Mount the net tight enough that it can't balloon out in a crash, but make sure it releases cleanly when you need out. While you're working in the cockpit, review race harness requirements and expiration rules for your belts too.

Window Nets for Oval, Drag, Sprint Car and Quarter Midget Racing

The right net depends on the car you run and the rules you race under. Oval-track stock cars often use a NASCAR-style window net or a ribbon net built for full-bodied cars.

Simpson offers a trapezoid 16 x 27 in. NASCAR-style net, and the RJS Grand National net is another ribbon option rated to SFI 27.1. Drag racers running door cars should check their class rules, since net requirements often depend on the car and how fast it runs. Simpson also makes a driver net made to fit Corvette.

Open-cockpit cars have their own options. Simpson sprint car driver nets are SFI rated for sprint car use, and RaceQuip offers a quarter midget (QMA) roof cage net for young racers. Your net is only one layer of protection, so check race helmet ratings and regulations for your class too. Shop all race car window nets on this page, then round out your gear with racing helmets and accessories.