NASCAR’s Worst Crashes: Lessons in the Frailty of Stock Car Racing

NASCAR’s worst crashes are a testament to the darker side of stock car racing.

Kevin Ward Jr. and Tony Stewart made US gambling news in the worst way. Earlier in August, Ward was killed in the Empire Super Sprints race in New York. The 20-year-old was competing at the Canandaigua Motorsports Park, when he crashed his car. Although the other cars slowed down their speed as was indicated by the caution flag, Ward was struck by a driver Tony Stewart while on foot and died less than an hour later.

• Tony Stewart is fighting a wrongful death lawsuit for killing Kevin Ward Jr.
• A 37 car crash in Daytona changed the limit of cars on the track to 43
• Glenn Roberts hit a wall, caught fire and died trying to avoid an accident

Tony Stewart was slapped with a wrongful death lawsuit. The official response stated “Stewart did not see Ward Jr. or anyone else walking on foot on the track until just prior to contact, and did not know the identity of the person walking on the track until afterward.” Ward’s crash happened behind Stewart and he was unaware of it. Although the Grand Jury didn’t indict Stewart, the tragic loss of life was still unfortunate. Car wrecks are a normal occurrence in the sport and we will take a look at some of NASCAR’s worst crashes.

NASCAR’s worst crashes begins in Daytona, Florida

In February of 1960, the Daytona Modified Sportsman Race went underway with 73 cars. After the completion of one lap, 37 drivers were taken out of the race. The collision resulted in eight drivers being hospitalized. Fortunately, there weren’t any deaths or severe injuries. As a result, NASCAR made a new rule reducing the limit of cars on the track to 43.

At the 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at the Bristol Motor Speedway in 1990, a major crash occurred. Driver Michael Waltrip, while in the middle of turn two suffered a collision that split his car in two. Waltrip lived that day with little more than “some contusions and a little bit of confusion.” The infamous “Turn Two” was the site of another crash 12 years which involved driver Mike Harmon who also survived.

NASCAR’s worst crashes couldn’t escape even the likes of Richard Petty. The revered “Godfather of NASCAR” already had a reputation for crashes. In 1970, he surpassed all expectations as he hit the retaining wall at the Darlington Speedway in South Carolina. Many thought that Petty would die as his Plymouth rolled and flipped multiple times. NASCAR instilled changes such as required protective nets in the open windows of all cars and led to additional safety precautions for head and neck support.

Dale Earnhardt dominated stock car racing at one time and would have been stable money for mobile betting punters if he drove in today’s times. Unfortunately that didn’t happen since he lost his life in 2001 at the Daytona 500. The racing legend was hit by Sterling Marlin in the rear and left spinning in the center of the track. Ken Schrader couldn’t avoid the legend and struck him directly on the passenger side at 155 mph.

NASCAR’s worst crashes continues with Carlos Pardo

Carlos Pardo was a driver that definitely demonstrated his skills by winning eight NASCAR Corona Series races. Number nine however would prove differently as he competed in the series one more time in Mexico. Being “tapped” on the rear, while in the 97th lap, spun Pardo’s car out of control. After he smashed into a wall at 120 mph, his car was utterly destroyed. Although he won the race, Pardo lost his life.

In 2001 at the Darlington Raceway, driver Steve Park had an extreme moment of “weirdness.” As the caution flagged was waving, somehow Park pulled off his steering wheel. The car then proceeded to veer off to the left as driver Larry Foyt was trying to speed up to catch the rest of the pack. Foyt’s car struck Park’s car and he suffered massive brain damage and permanent speed deficiencies.

Ricky Rudd was unable to control his vehicle during the last race of the year at the Atlanta Journal 500 in 1990. As a result of Rudd’s car spinning, he uncontrollably collided with Bill Elliot’s car, which was in the middle of a tire change in the pit stop. Mike Rich was changing the back tire as he was hit by Rudd’s car and “sandwiched” between two cars. The death forced NASCAR to lower the speed limit in the pit and required pit crew members to wear protective gear.

Before NASCAR appeared as America’s national sport, the 1964 World 600 was another typical race among many in this growing sport. NASCAR driver Glenn “Fireball” Roberts would have been a cherry today for online sportsbooks in the US. Unfortunately the driver lived up to his name when he was involved in one of NASCAR’s worst crashes. Trying to avoid a crash ahead of him, Roberts hit a wall, rolled his car and caught fire. Suffering burns over 80 percent of his body, “Fireball” contracted pneumonia, went into a coma and died.