NASCAR Crashes That Are Brutal

Human nature is always the same.

Just as you and I won't change our behavior unless we are forced to, the same is true for sports. NASCAR crashes not only increase the excitement of the sport but they also increase the popularity of NASCAR.

Unfortunately, NASCAR crashes are a big reason why new safety systems and engineering changes happen.

As an organization, NASCAR is very conservative.

Over the years NASCAR has done whatever it could to protect the safety of the drivers and the fans. Strict regulations and checkups have now made NASCAR one of the safest sports today.

As you know, NASCAR racing has seen some pretty spectacular crashes.

Here are just a few that you might remember.

Michael McDowell was qualifying for the Samsung 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway. Near turn one, McDowell slammed his Toyota Camry COT (Car Of The Future) into the SAFER barrier.

Fortunately, McDowell walked away from this NASCAR crash.

Why was this NASCAR crash so important?

Because the impact of McDowell's Toyota Camry against the new track walls was so severe, this was a good test of the advances in safety that have been paid for in blood by the many NASCAR racers who gave their lives over the years in this sport that you and I love so much.

At least this NASCAR crash against the SAFER barrier and resulting car flips had a good ending---no injuries for Michael McDowell.

This time Michael was lucky.

Today it's called the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

But in 1990 at the time of Michael Waltrip's crash, it was the Budweiser 250 Busch Grand National. If you have ever been to Tennessee's Bristol Motor Speedway, you know that this track is considered by many to be one of the greatest tracks on the NASCAR circuit.

Because the Bristol track is a high-banked concrete bowl that is just over a half-mile long, these conditions make for very tight-quarter racing.

As you'll see in this striking video, Michael Waltrip's car disintegrates on impact as his Pontiac Grand Prix hits the concrete gate entrance wall to the track.

Waltrip was lucky to survive this crash.

If I asked you when and where the largest single NASCAR crash took place could you tell me?

Well, before you start to Google the answer, let me make it easy for you.

Over 40 years ago at Daytona in 1960, an incredible 37 NASCAR drivers out of a field of 68, were involved in a huge crash. This was the largest single NASCAR crash in history.

Watch all the exciting details in this video.

It's an absolute miracle that Richard Petty didn't die on that day in 1970.

As the NASCAR fans watched in horror, Petty's Plymouth Road Runner slammed into the inside retaining wall at South Carolina's Darlington Raceway.

This NASCAR crash resulted in many new safety requirements for racing. Two of those mandatory changes were window nets and additional reinforcements to the structure of the cars.

Watch this video for the exciting details of this incredible NASCAR crash.

Rusty Wallace has the distinct honor of being the NASCAR driver most responsible for innovations that chanced the aerodynamics of NASCAR racers.

Even though Rusty didn't intend to made NASCAR history this way, his problem paved the way for important changes to NASCAR vehicles.

The 1989 Winston Cup Champion Rusty Wallace, experienced flight twice in his #2 Ford Thunderbird. Once at Daytona and the second time at Talladega during the 1993 season.

Since the NASCAR crash of Rusty Wallace, many aerodynamic changes have been made to the cars so that they don't "fly".

The solution to this problem was introduced in the 1994 season. That's when roof flaps were first used in NASCAR.

This NASCAR crash video will definitely get your heart pumping.

It was November 1990.

A sad day in the history of NASCAR.

Watch this video as Ricky Rudd plows into Bill Elliott's parked car during a tire change. Mike Rich was a tire changer on the rear tire of Elliott's parked car as Ricky's car slams into him in pit row.

All NASCAR fans regret this tragic day.

Bobby Allison rips out an entire section of protective guard rail at Talladega.


The right rear tire of Bobby's Buick LeSabre sponsored by Miller, blew at about 210 miles per hour.

Had it not been for the protective rail, Bobby's airborne car would have gone into spectators.

Watch all the action on this amazing crash video.

At age 35 and in the prime of his NASCAR driving career, Glenn "Fireball" Roberts was running mid-pack in the 1964 World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It was a gorgeous NASCAR racing day in late May when tragedy struck at Charlotte.

During the seventh lap two other drivers , Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson, collided. Trying desperately to avoid the crash ahead of him, "Fireball's" Ford rolled over and burst into flames after slamming backwards into the retaining wall.

NASCAR fans on that day remember thinking that the fire, sparked by the fuel in Robert's tank, was one of the most intense ever witnessed at a NASCAR event. By the time Roberts was pulled from the wreckage, he had suffered burns over 80% of his body.

As of result of this tragedy, new safety requirements were put in place. For example, drivers just dipping their shirts in fireproof solutions was no longer acceptable. Also, rubber fuel tanks and improved onboard fire extinguishing systems became standard.

Glenn "Fireball" Roberts died six weeks later on July 2, 1964.

One last piece of "little known" facts about "Fireball" Roberts. His nickname "Fireball" didn't come from his NASCAR racing days. He got the name because of his baseball pitching style.

The 1970's ended with NASCAR making a deal with CBS television to cover their races from "Gentlemen, start your engines" to the waving of the "checkered flag".

NASCAR finally came of age with this TV deal by greatly expanding their fan base.

But, fans got more than they bargained for on one Daytona 500 afternoon.

Just in case you don't remember, Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough turned in a great show for the fans. On the final lap, Allison and Yarborough were running first and second, with Richard Petty running third.

And then the unthinkable happens-----

Oh well, just watch the video to see what happened.

Unfortunately, NASCAR lost one of its most beloved drivers at the 2001 Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt.

Fans everywhere were surprised that the accident, which didn't look like an especially violent NASCAR crash, would prove fatal. Everyone was stunned.
Never before seen from NASCAR fans was the largest outpouring of grief.

As a result of Earnhardt's death, NASCAR made three very important changes:

First, NASCAR made the Head And Neck Support (HANS) mandatory.

Second, was the Steel And Form Energy Reduction (SAFER) soft barriers that would replace the hard concrete walls.

And lastly, it speeded up the development of the "Car Of Tomorrow".

As a long time NASCAR fan myself, let me add a personal note.

Just because you have pasted from this life doesn't mean that you won't always be in our hearts.

Thanks for all the great NASCAR memories with you and #3.

Farewell Dale.

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