10 worst NASCAR crashes of all time


10 worst NASCAR crashes of all time

Worst NASCAR accidents | Representative Image

NASCAR is one of the most competitive motor racing sports out there. This comes with a crazy and enthusiastic fan following which makes it highly populous in various parts of the world.

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Only a true NASCAR lover knows that it’s not just driving, it’s a physical grind that involves coordination, guts, and crazy endurance. This also makes it a highly dangerous sport, more than what it looks like on our screens.

Every time a racer steps onto the track, they are essentially putting their life on the line. And unfortunately, sometimes the need for speed and the irresistible adrenaline rush to win can get the best of even the most skilled motor drivers, resulting in a serious accident. Now, let’s look at the five worst car accidents in NASCAR history.

Richard Petty — 1970

Former NASCAR driver Richard Lee Petty aka “The King” may have been notorious for wrecking his vehicle, but none of his accidents turned out to be scarier than the one he had at South Carolina’s Darlington Speedway in 1970. Petty hit the retaining wall with his Plymouth Roadrunner and went on to roll and flip plenty of times. As a result of this horrible event, NASCAR instructed to install protective nets in all NASCAR racing vehicles.

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Ricky Rudd — Atlanta, 1990

During the final race of 1990, Atlanta Journal 500, Ricky Rudd lost control of his car and spun into Bill Elliott’s vehicle, which was undergoing a tire change. Meanwhile, Mike Rich (Elliott’s rear tire changer), was working on the back tire, when he was struck and pinned between the two cars. The latter’s death had caused NASCAR to implement pit road speed limits at every NASCAR track and required all pit crew to wear protective gear.

Carlos Pardo’s fatal wreck — NASCAR Corona Series, 2009

Mexican motorsports racing driver Carlos Pardo won eight of the 74 NASCAR Corona Series races he participated in. Unfortunately, his final triumph came at a steep cost of his life. This tragic incident took place during the Mexico Series race at Puebla in 2019 when his car was tapped from behind, causing Pardo to spin out of control and smash into a wall behind the pit lane at 120 miles per hour.

Carl Edwards — Aaron’s 499, 2009

In 2009, America’s Carl Edwards‘ No. 99 car underwent major damage during Aaron’s 499 at the Talladega Superspeedway. In an attempt to block Brad Keselowski from passing him, Edwards’ vehicle went airborne and slammed into the catch fence on the front stretch. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured in the incident despite how bad things looked from the outside. 

Steve Park — Darlington, 2001

At the 2001 Darlington Raceway, the USA’s Steve Park experienced a freakish NASCAR accident. As the racers drove around the track, Larry Foyt raced to catch up to the rest of the competitors when Park, unfortunately, pulled his steering wheel off. This caused his vehicle to veer left across the track, where he would eventually be T-boned by Foyt’s car. This tragic occurrence resulted in Park suffering serious injuries, which included massive brain damage and a permanent speech impediment.

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