Getting a Daytona 500 title is one of the most prestigious in NASCAR competition. So, it is reasonable that everyone will want to earn the Daytona 500.
Crashes are the speedway track is a normal phenomenon. Some crashes are extremely fatal and some are not life threatening.
We made a list of the 10 NASCAR Crashes at Daytona 500, which are insane.
37 Cars Crashed in 1960
Back in the 60s, more than 65 cars participate in the Daytona 500. In recent days the regular number of cars is 43. In 1960 Daytona 500, there was a massive crash which included 37 cars out of 68. One driver lost his control while driving on 150mph. Right away all the cars behind hits each other with high speed. As a result, all of the 37 drives had to get out of the track as all the cars were wrecked.
The video of 1960 Daytona 500 crash is available on YouTube.
Ricky Rudd’s Crash on 1984 Daytona 500
Until 1984, there was no serious crash like Rudds. On that race, 6 cars were exiting in turn 4 on the bank, but Ricky lost his control. He flew in the air and flipped several times. After the tumbles, he stopped in the infield grass. He was lucky, the car didn’t hit anything. Rudd’s flipping video is available on YouTube
Richard Petty’s Crash on 1988 Daytona 500
In 1988 NASCAR started restrictor-plate and the blame for this crash goes slightly to the plate. Besides this, Phil Barkdoll also tapped Petty’s bumper. That tap made Richard Petty’s car spun like a top. The car was at 180 mph speed and flipped several times while spun. Two of the wheels were gone. Petty was totally fine, but ligaments were torn.
Neil Bonnett’s Crash on 1994 Daytona 500 Practice
Neil Bonnett’s crash has not happened in the main event. During the first practice session of Daytona, Neil lost control of his Chevrolet Lumina. He was on turn 4 of Daytona International Speedway. Bonnett crashed into the wall and got hit on the head. Head injuries cause him dead on that day.
Read More: 10 Best Drivers Who Never Won Daytona 500
Rodney Orr’s Crash on 1994 Daytona 500 Practice Session
1994 was a sad year for the NASCAR family. Rodney Orr died in practice session a few days after Neil Bonnett had died. Both of them died in a similar accident. Rodney’s crash was in turn 2, where he lost his control. While going through Turn 2 Rodney lost the control and his car started to spin. Eventually, the car flipped and hit on the wall. Rodney died right away.
Dale Earnhardt’s Crash on 2001 Daytona 500: Unfortunate Nascar Crash Death Case
On the final lap, Dale had collusion with Sterling and Marlin and Ken Schrader. As a result, Dale crashed into the retaining wall on the right. He died immediately because of basilar skull fracture. Earnhardt’s made the realization of safety in NASCAR and they started to focus on intensive safety of the drivers. This is how NASCAR lost its one of the greatest riders of all time.
Dale Earnhardt in car crash video.
This year 2021, NASCAR remember Dale Earnhardt after 20 years of his death by event called “Black Sunday”
2002 Daytona 500 Crash
This crash is also known as the big one. Kevin Harvick was liable for that crash. He was in second place and tried to block Jeff Gordon on lap 149. The contacted and the solution made Harvik spun. Kevin hit the wall and an additional 17 cars lost their control because of that.
Daytona 500 Crashes on 2017
2 crashes occurred in the 2017 Daytona 500. One was in lap 129 and another one in 143. On the first crash, Jimmie Johnson was in the outside lane and Trevor Bayne was in the inside lane. Check the best riders of Daytona 500.
Jimmie went inside to block Trevor, which cause the crash and Jimmie was spun around the track. In total 17 cars joined the crash. The next crash happened on lap 143. Chase Elliott went to the front of the field and Jamie McMurray was turned around, as a result, 11 cars were crashed. Both of the crash are categorized as The Big One. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_One_(motorsport))
Daytona 500 Crashes on 2018
It had 3 big crashes. On 60th lap, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. had a small collision with Ryan Blaney. Ricky did not crash and gained control after the collision. Erik Jones lost control and made a crash for 9 cars.
The second one was on Lap 103. Brad Keselowski and Chase Elliott had a small contact on the side, which made Elliott hitting the wall. This crash consists of 7 cars. The final crash of 2018 happened on lap 199.
11 cars were crashed because of Kurt Busch, who was trying to block Ryan Blaney.
2019 Daytona 500 Crash: The Big One
Paul Menard and Matt DiBenedetto scrambled on the track and involved a crash of 21 cars. This was a one big crash at Daytona. But Luckily everyone was safe.
Conclusion
Major or terrific crashes were used to describe massive crashes in NASCAR events. After the 2000s, severe crashes in NASCAR were started to refer to as The Big One. All of the crashes we have discussed here are insane. NASCAR took different safety measures after several divers died on the track. So, nowadays crashes are not life-threatening.
Check: Greatest Riders of MOTOCROSS