Watch: Memorable wrecks at Talladega Superspeedway
Ten Chase for the Sprint Cup drivers head to the elimination race at Talladega Superspeedway hoping to secure advancement into the third round, but that’s not the only thing these drivers and the rest of the field will have to worry about Sunday.
They’ll also have to face the prospect of “The Big One” – the calamitous multicar wreck that has become a staple at NASCAR’s largest track and can turn a decent day into a disaster. Or an even more precarious proposition – a spin so wild, a crash so crazy that it can send a car flipping, rolling or even flying through the air.
The Talladega race, turned demolition derby, in May saw 35 of 40 cars leave with at least some damage, including Matt Kenseth, who got airborne; Chris Buescher, who barrel-rolled down the backstretch; and Kevin Harvick, who spent the end of the race riding the top of the SAFER barrier. Harvick and Jimmie Johnson have already clinched spots in the third round by virtue of their wins at Kansas and Charlotte, respectively, but Kenseth and the other nine contenders will need to avoid the mayhem.
Chase nuggets: Who will escape Talladega chaos?
As drivers and teams prepare for Sunday’s Hellmann's 500 (2 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network), they’ll no doubt be remembering some of these memorable wrecks (in chronological order):
Bobby Allison in the 1987 Winston 500
This is the crash that was the impetus for restrictor plates. Allison blew his right rear tire, spun on the frontstretch and then flew up into the catchfence, tearing up a large section. Allison was uninjured and when he climbed out of the car, the fans gave him a huge cheer.
Dale Earnhardt in the 1996 Die Hard 500
Dale Earnhardt suffered one of the most terrifying crashes of his career before his untimely death following a crash at Daytona in 2001. Earnhardt, a 10-time winner at Talladega in NASCAR's premier series, bruised his sternum and fractured his collarbone after Ernie Irvan and Sterling Marlin bumped, sending Marlin into Earnhardt's car. Earnhardt careened into the wall head-on but walked away under his own power.
Elliott Sadler in the 2003 Aaron's 499
Kurt Busch made contact with the rear of Sadler's car, sending Sadler into an incredible barrel roll that seems as if it will never end. Sadler's car does a complete 360 in the air, slides across the infield grass on the roof, and then launches back into a series of flips when the car makes contact with the pavement again.
Carl Edwards in the 2009 Aaron's 499
Edwards was on his way to victory in the spring race at Talladega, trying to hold off Brad Keselowski on the last lap, when Keselowski made a move, tapped Edwards' car and sent the No. 99 sailing. Seven fans were hurt by flying debris when Edwards' Ford crashed into the front-stretch fence. Edwards would eventually climb out of the car and jog across the finish line.
Tony Stewart in the 2012 Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500
With a push from Sam Hornish Jr., Stewart used the outside lane to take the lead at the white flag, then worked hard to hold it. But Stewart's attempt to block heading into the final turn led to chaos that eventually collected 25 cars. Matt Kenseth, who was battling Stewart for the lead, avoided the pile-up, cruising home for the win. Dale Earnhardt Jr. wasn't so lucky; he suffered a concussion that caused him to miss the next two races.
Chris Buescher in the 2016 GEICO 500
Buescher did not start this multicar wreck that unfolded shortly after the halfway point, but he sure got the worst of it. Contact between Jamie McMurray and Austin Dillon set off a chain reaction which culminated in Michael Annett colliding into Buescher and sending the No. 34 tumbling down the backstretch.
Matt Kenseth and Danica Patrick in the 2016 GEICO 500
With eight laps remaining in the already wild race, Michael McDowell made contact with Patrick, who careened straight into Matt Kenseth. Kenseth went airborne as Patrick sailed under him and crashed hard into the interior SAFER Barrier and caught fire. Kenseth’s car just missed the infield catchfence before it landed on its hood and rolled to a stop. The two cars sustained the brunt of the damage in the 12-car wreck.
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