The Worst NASCAR Crashes and How the League Has Changed

NASCAR cars have become safer in recent years, but they have not always been that way. Some of the worst NASCAR crashes came at times before safety precautions were made, and many of them have had deadly results. Here’s a look at some of the worst NASCAR crashes that have ever occurred.

It is important to understand that many of the worst NASCAR crashes have occurred because of the high speeds. In fact, a slight error by a driver can cause a car wreck during a race, and it can make it difficult to get cars away from a crash. Sometimes injuries can result to drivers, but in the case of the worst NASCAR crashes even worse things have happened.

The first of the worst NASCAR crashes came on May 12, 2000, when Adam Petty was driving and his throttle stuck. He lost control of his car and crashed head on at one hundred miles per hour, dying as a result.

Two months after Adam Petty’s death Kenny Irwin died in a July 7 crash. A kill switch feature on the steering wheel of NASCAR cars was installed into the cars as a result in order to keep crashes as terrible as the ones of Petty and Irwin to be less likely to occur. However, on October 13 of the same year Craftsman Truck Series driver Tony Roper died in a crash.

While these have been some of the worst NASCAR crashes in history, the most significant of the worst NASCAR crashes came at the 2001 Daytona 500. Racing legend Dale Earnhardt Sr. died in a crash near the end of the race. The car did not flip over or catch fire, and all that happened was that Ken Shrader drove into the passenger door of Earnhardt’s car after a slip by Sterling Marlin. This prompted Earnhardt’s car to slam into the track wall at a high speed.

With Earnhardt’s incredible impact on the sport that became one of the worst NASCAR crashes, if not the worst, in history. This prompted many different changes in NASCAR safety. New seat belt and seat restraint methods have been used in recent years so that drivers can be safer and can be still and secure during crashes. Also, technologies have changed so that the frames of cars can be more secure and more likely to absorb the impact of a crash.

While the drivers who died in the worst NASCAR crashes can’t be brought back, deaths don’t have to occur in the future. With the many safety advancements made over the last few years in NASCAR there will be less of a chance that any other crashes could end up becoming one of the worst NASCAR crashes ever occurred.

AUTO RACING: Gordon relishing role as veteran voice in NASCAR

NASCAR standout makes stop in Tri-Cities on Wednesday

Craig Goess Looks for Repeat Win at Pocono Raceway

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=0013FxZ1gY3q2srofcpnCe8XhvSQLufrCtiUWVjzPkpk-BHRUDlplyPPwU-YnP7BJd9IEk-SDQOVO1FiAAs1XqYg8hYdMa0Xf1ehJGwEQIAu58z1CxX1DLSJQ%3D%3D ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Craig Goess ARCA Racing Series Advance: Pocono Raceway Race: Weis ...

Brandon McReynolds: Pocono Raceway Preview

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=0013FxZ1gY3q2srofcpnCe8XvdVdgcKS2MCEMFqcU8jnd7dVAvMHUJRa3MN-8YzyYZLgP4GuZuTD4IRJRuYAJeQPt1fdtbBMXs9FyaEzUEfkTuGZ-5x4eiWWA%3D%3D ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brandon McReynolds ARCA Racing Series Advance: Pocono Raceway Race ...

Montoya looking for redemption at Indy

Juan Pablo Montoya has been good enough to win, but he just hasn't been able to keep his car on the track.

Indianapolis: Bowyer - Friday media visit

CLINT BOWYER, NO. 33 WHEATIES FUEL CHEVROLET, met with members of the media at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to discuss --- and more. WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON DURING THE REGULAR SEASON, DO YOU THINK THAT THE CHASE WILL BE JUST AS EXCITING THIS YEAR? "I think so.

Gordon relishes role as elder statesman

Jeff Gordon spends his weekends wrestling a 3,400-pound stock car around fearsome speedways at speeds approaching 200 miles per hour.

Local racing: Two for Roberts, one for Madden in Cooks Southern Nationals

Casey Roberts, of Toccoa, Ga., roared to another victory at Cherokee Speedway on Thursday for the second stop on Ray Cooks Southern Nationals tour. Roberts, the top qualifier for the evening, led flag to flag taking the win over second-place...