NASCAR's program for improving driver safety and cutting costs is called Car of Tomorrow (CoT). The Car of Tomorrow (abbreviated as CoT) is the common name used for the chassis that accompanies the NASCAR Cup Series (since 2008 as a full-time) and Xfinity Series (since 2011 as a full-time) race cars. The car was part of a five-year project to create a safer vehicle following several deaths in competition, particularly the 2001 crash that took the life of Dale Earnhardt.