NASCAR Deaths [Updated For 2024]

A day at a NASCAR event can be a wonderful experience. With the exhilarating races and the energy in the crowd, it can be a great place for the whole family.

However, on rare occasions, a NASCAR event can turn deadly when an unexpected event or accident occurs, resulting in the death of a driver or a spectator. This study analyzes every driver and spectator death that has ever happened at a NASCAR event.

Our team analyzed newspaper archives, local news outlets, and major news sites to deliver the most comprehensive information possible.

Summary of Findings

• There have been 128 deaths of drivers and spectators at NASCAR events. 108 of these deaths were drivers, while 20 were spectators.
• 92 NASCAR drivers have lost their lives due to an accident on the racetrack, which equates to 72% of all deaths at NASCAR events.
• 16 drivers died due to suffering from a medical condition on the track.
• There have been 20 non-driver fatalities at NASCAR events, which include spectators, crew members, and police officers.
• 14 racers lost their lives at Daytona International Speedway, the highest out of any NASCAR circuit.
• The NASCAR Cup Series is the deadliest event, accounting for a total of 28 driver deaths.

NASCAR Deaths By Decade

The following list below includes both driver and spectator deaths by decade.

Decade	Number of Deaths
1940-1949	2
1950-1959	23
1960-1969	22
1970-1979	18
1980-1989	19
1990-1999	23
2000-2009	14
2010-2019	6
2020-present	1
Total	128

The number of deaths has stayed consistent per decade since NASCAR started; however, since the sport has gotten safer in the last decade, deaths on the track have decreased.

Drivers Who Died Of A Medical Condition During A Race

In total, 16 drivers lost their lives behind the wheel due to a medical condition, with 93% of these fatalities resulting from heart attacks or strokes.

Driver	Date of Incident	Circuit	Cause of Death
Gene Lovelace	July 3, 1970	Southside Speedway	Heart Attack
Bobby Isaac	August 13, 1977	Hickory Speedway	Heat exhaustion and heart attack
Bill Baker	August 12, 1978	Sears Point Raceway	Heart Attack
Larry Catlett	May 2, 1980	Huntsville Speedway	Heart Attack
John Nelson	May 29, 1982	Bowman Gray Stadium	Heart Attack
Gary Neice	May 4, 1991	South Boston Speedway	Heart Attack
Hal Shuster	June 6, 1992	Cajon Speedway	Diabetic Seizure
Edward Maness	July 10, 1993	Santa Fe Speedway	Heart Attack
Ron Biellier	July 15, 1994	Speedway USA	Heart Attack
Al Papini	April 1, 2001	Rockford Speedway	Heart Attack
Bubba Beck	June 1, 2002	Bowman Gray Stadium	Heart Attack
Bub Bilodeau	June 5, 2010	Beech Ridge Motor Speedway	Heart Attack
Ron Pestana	July 14, 2012	All American Speedway	Heart Attack
Jimmy Smith	April 13, 2013	Thompson International Speedway	Heart Attack
Leon Gonyo	September 19, 2015	Devil’s Bowl Speedway	Heart Attack
Terry Stevenson	May 27, 2018	Devil’s Bowl Speedway	Heart Attack

 

NASCAR Spectator Deaths

Here is a list of every spectator fatality that has occurred at a NASCAR race, with 20 deaths in total.

Name	Date of Accident	Course	Role	Cause of Death
Roy Brannon	July 25, 1948	Columbus Speedway	Spectator	An auto car went through a fence killing Roy Brannon, who was 7 years old at the time of his death.
Joe Salek	May 28, 1955	Fonda Speedway	Spectator	Joe Salek was fatally injured when a wheel from a racing stock car broke off, hurdled over a 10-foot fence, and struck him on the head.
Steven Clark	August 19, 1956	Bay Meadows	Police officer	Stephen Clark was trying to assist at a crash site on the south turn of the track when the incident occurred. As he ran towards the wreck, the racing cars catapulted him into the air.
William Thomasson	October 20, 1957	North Wilkesboro Speedway	Spectator	A wheel from a race car hurdled from a fence and landed in the stands at the speedway, killing William Thomasson.
Ray (Darney) Albert	August 26, 1960	Kearney Bowl	Driver	An out-of-control stock car flipped over a wall and struck Ray Albert, killing him.
Paul McDuffie	September 5, 1960	Darlington International Speedway	Crew Chief/Mechanic	Two cars locked bumpers and spun into the mechanic area, killing Paul McDuffie.
Charles Sweatland	September 5, 1960	Darlington International Speedway	Mechanic	Two cars locked bumpers and spun into the mechanic area, killing Charles Sweatland.
Joe Taylor	September 5, 1960	Darlington International Speedway	Official	Two cars locked bumpers and spun into the mechanic area, killing Joe Taylor.
Richard Gough	October 12, 1963	Dixie Classic Fairgrounds	Spectator	A car went out of control crashing into a fence, killing bystander Richard Gough, since he was in the way.
Ronald Pickle	January 17, 1965	Riverside International Raceway	Spectator	Ronald Pickle was standing on a forklift truck watching a race, when the forklift toppled over, killing him in the process.
Howard Betts	August 12, 1967	Atlantic City Speedway	Official	A car struck Howard Betts at 80mph, dying at the scene.
Pat Pattison	September 2, 1973	Evergreen Speedway	Official	While Pat Pattison was placing a yellow flag, a car veered and hit him, killing him on the scene.
Randy Owens	May 4, 1975	Alabama International Motor Speedway	Crewmen	An accident in the pits resulted in Randy Owens being knocked in the air. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
Douglas Grunst	January 15, 1978	Riverside International Raceway	Team member	Grunst was part of the pit crew when he was trapped between two vehicles and another car slammed into him.
Dennis Wade	March 18, 1979	Atlanta International Raceway	Mechanic	Dennis Wade was hit by a rookie driver and was killed in a freak pit road accident.
Frank Cervoni	August 28, 1982	Islip Speedway	Mechanic	While working in the pit area, Frank Cervoni attempted to fix a vehicle, when he was then struck by a race car.
Mike Rich	November 18, 1990	Atlanta Motor Speedway	Mechanic	Mike Rich was changing a tire when the brakes on a vehicle failed, killing Rich in the process.
Rene Bourgois	September 18, 1993	Stockton 99 Speedway	Crewmen	A car lost control skidding into a chain-linked fence, landing into a pit area, killing Rene Bourgeois.
Jimmy Davies	October 17, 1998	Lime Rock Park	Crewmen	A yard-long piece of guardrail smashed into Jimmy Davies in the pit crew, killing him on the scene.
Virginia Whyel	July 21, 2001	Lorain County Speedway	Spectator	A car crashed into the stands and Virginia Whyel was watching the race from her wheelchair when the impact from the crash threw her from her seat, causing her to lose consciousness immediately. She died at the scene.

NASCAR Speedways With The Highest Number of Deaths (Drivers & Spectators)

When accounting for every death that has happened, these are the list of circuits that have had the highest number of deaths of drivers and spectators. Daytona International Speedway takes the lead with a total of 14 deaths that have happened at that course, accounting for 11% of all deaths on speedways.

Circuit	Number of Deaths
Daytona International Speedway	14
Riverside International Raceway	7
Darlington International Raceway	6
Charlotte Motor Speedway	6
Thompson International Speedway	4
Fonda Speedway	4
Speedway USA	3
Langhorne Speedway	3
Devil’s Bowl Speedway	3
Atlanta International Raceway	3
Alabama International Motor Speedway	3

A List of All NASCAR Driver Deaths Due To An Accident

Below is a list of every NASCAR driver fatality due to an accident at an event. This includes every event, in the NASCAR Cup Series and others, such as the Modified Division Series and the All-American Challenge Series.

Every driver who perished in this list passed due to an accident on the raceway, and this doesn’t include any drivers who suffered from a medical condition. [Jump to Conclusion]

In total, 91 NASCAR drivers died from injuries from an accident. 

Most of these drivers perished on the same date of the accident, but there are a few exceptions, such as Rick Baldwin and Bruce Jacobi passing years after the date of the accident, both in a comatose state.

Driver Name: Slick Davis (USA)
Date of Accident: July 25, 1948
Date of Death: July 25, 1948
Circuit: Greensboro Fairgrounds (Greensboro, North Carolina)
Situation: This was NASCAR’s first death. Davis was in a race at the Greensboro fairgrounds when his car hit the outside embankment and rolled several times. He was taken to the local hospital, dying that same night and succumbing to his injuries.

Driver Name: Walt Sprague
Date of Accident: August 24, 1951
Date of Death: August 24, 1951
Circuit: Monroe County Fairgrounds
Situation: While racing, Walt Sprague was driving at a high speed around a turn, when his car toppled over and then he was taken to the local hospital. He passed away the same day.

Driver Name: Larry Mann (USA)
Date of Death: June 1st, 1952
Circuit: Langhorne Speedway
Situation: Larry Mann was the first of three fatalities at the Langhorne Speedway within five years. On the 18th race of the NASCAR season, Mann lost control of his vehicle on the 211th lap of the 250 lap race, crashing into a guardrail, smashing through a fence, and flipping multiple times. He was rushed to Nazareth Hospital where he died from a pulmonary hemorrhage the same day due to his head injuries.

Driver Name: Rex Stansell (USA)
Date of Accident: July 4, 1952
Date of Death: July 4, 1952
Circuit: Darlington International Raceway
Situation: Rex Stansell was a race driver from Spartanburg who was involved in a serious accident during a race at Darlington. In the incident, competing driver Felix McConnell’s car blew a tire and was struck broadside by Stansell’s modified vehicle. He died that same day from his injuries.

Driver Name: Frank Arford (USA)
Date of Death: June 20, 1953
Circuit: Langhorne Speedway
Situation: Frank Arford was participating in the International 200 race when his Oldsmobile rolled and crashed. His car seatbelts broke and he was thrown inside of the car. He died the same day without regaining consciousness.

Driver Name: Bill Blevins (USA)
Date of Death: September 19, 1953
Circuit: Raleigh Speedway
Situation: Bill Blevins was part of the day known as “The Black Saturday”. The incident occurred when rookie driver Bill Blevins’s stalled car, left in the racing line, was hit by another rookie, Jesse Midkiff. The crash resulted in an explosion that killed Blevins, burning alive at the scene.

Driver Name: Jesse Midkiff (USA)
Date of Death: September 19, 1953
Circuit: Raleigh Speedway
Situation: Rookie driver Jesse Midkiff crashed into Bill Blevins’ vehicle on the same day, resulting in an explosion that killed Midkiff in the process.

Driver Name: Dick Kaufman (USA)
Date of Death: February 20, 1954
Circuit: Daytona Beach and Road Course
Situation: During a normal race, Dick Kaufman’s vehicle lost a wheel, causing it to flip multiple times. Despite efforts from officials, Kaufman unfortunately succumbed to his injuries, dying the same day.

Driver Name: Lou Figaro (USA)
Date of Accident: October 24, 1954
Date of Death: October 25th, 1954
Circuit: North Wilkesboro Speedway
Situation: During the Wilkes 160 at the North Wilkesboro Speedway, Lou Figaro’s car smashed through the guardrail and overturned with three laps left. He died due to his injuries the next day.

Driver Name: Al Briggs (USA)
Date of Death: February 26, 1955
Circuit: Daytona Beach and Road Course
Situation: In 1955, a tragic four-car pileup on the Daytona Beach course led to the death of Al Briggs. During the incident, Briggs’ car caught fire, and a fellow driver risked his own life to rescue him. Owens rolled Briggs in the sand to extinguish the flames on his clothes, but Briggs succumbed to his injuries the following day in the hospital.

Driver Name: Otis Eaton (USA)
Date of Death: May 14, 1955
Circuit: Fonda Speedway
Situation: Otis Eaton’s car rolled over twice on the back stretch and landed directly in front of another driver’s car, which collided with Eaton’s vehicle on its roof. Eaton was found unconscious and taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Amsterdam, where he remained in a coma until his death.

Driver Name: Jimmy Knowlan (USA)
Date of Death: September 9, 1955
Circuit: Islip Speedway
Situation: Jimmy Knowlan tragically lost his life while losing control of his car while attempting to avoid a spinning car. Unfortunately, he collided with a wall, overturning, resulting in an instant death.

Driver Name: John McVitty (USA)
Date of Death: April 21, 1956
Circuit: Langhorne Speedway
Situation: Attempting to qualify for his twelfth NASCAR event at Langhorne Speedway, McVitty lost control and flipped over multiple times in the second turn of the race. His safety belt broke, throwing him from the car and causing massive internal injuries. He was pronounced dead at Lower Bucks County Hospital in Bristol, Pennsylvania.

Driver Name: Dickey Reynolds (USA)
Date of Death: June 8, 1956
Circuit: Greensboro Fairgrounds (Greensboro, North Carolina)</
Situation: Dickey Reynolds passed away when he failed to make a turn, crashing through a 10 foot wooden fence and flipping over. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Date of Death: June 9, 1956
Circuit: Memphis-Arkansas Speedway
Situation: While driving at nearly 90 mph during his run, McHugh swerved, possibly due to a blown tire. His car flipped, tumbled over a 3-foot guard rail, and plunged into a lake 50 feet below the embankment. McHugh succumbed to his injuries from the crash.

Driver Name: Cotton Priddy (USA)
Date of Death: June 10, 1956
Circuit: Memphis-Arkansas Speedway
Situation: On the 39th lap of the NASCAR Grand National race, Priddy’s vehicle sideswiped another vehicle and flipped, being ejected from the vehicle. He died instantly from his injuries, with his body remaining on the track until medical assistance arrived.

Driver Name: Ralph W. ‘Hap’ Brown (USA)
Date of Death: June 23, 1956
Circuit: Lancaster Speedway (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania)
Situation: During a night of midget auto racing, Hap Brown was driving when a steel bar fell from the car in front of him and struck him in the face and head. The impact knocked him unconscious, causing his foot to get stuck on the gas pedal. His car then crashed through two fences, tragically killing several spectators.

Driver Name: Bobby Myers (USA)
Date of Death: September 2, 1957
Circuit: Darlington International Raceway
Situation: Bobby Myers was involved in a violent crash when Fonty Flock’s, another driver’s car spun and stopped perpendicular to the track. Both Myers and Paul Goldsmith struck Flock’s car at full speed. The crash seriously injured Goldsmith, ended Flock’s career, and resulted in Myers’ death after his car flipped and barrel-rolled.

Driver Name: Earl Bryant (USA)
Date of Death: October 27, 1957
Circuit: Concord Speedway
Situation: Earl Bryant was tragically killed when his car tumbled down a 15-foot embankment while making a turn on the Concord Speedway. Bryant was killed instantly and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Driver Name: Gwyn Staley (USA)
Date of Death: March 23, 1958
Circuit: Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds
Situation: Just after the start of a 100-mile race, Staley’s Chevrolet was hit by a fishtailing car, causing his vehicle to roll over three times and crash into a fence. He was pinned under the car and suffered fatal injuries.

Driver Name: Glen Wagner (USA)
Date of Death: September 28, 1958
Circuit: New York State Fairgrounds
Situation: Glen Wagner was injured fatally in a four-car smashup during a 100-mile NASCAR championship. His vehicle plowed into a stalled car, flipped over and crushed him. He died in a hospital a few hours later.

Driver Name: Red Bolduc (USA)
Date of Death: June 18, 1960
Circuit: Norwood Arena
Situation: Bolduc suffered severe head and internal injuries when the car he was driving during a stock car race slammed into a guardrail. He died at a hospital. It is unclear whether he died the day of the race or the day afterward.

Driver Name: Habe Haberling (USA)
Date of Death: February 21, 1961
Circuit: Daytona International Speedway
Situation: During a practice session for the NASCAR Sportsman Modified 250-mile race at Daytona International Speedway, tragedy struck racer Haberling. While driving his 1955 Chevrolet, Haberling’s car spun sideways on the east turn, slid down the 31-degree banking, then rolled over several times before stopping near the infield grass. Haberling succumbed from his injuries, and his helmet was torn off during the crash.

Driver Name: Ray Platte (USA)
Date of Death: July 21st, 1963
Circuit: South Boston Speedway
Situation: On July 20th, 1963, Ray Platte was racing during a 100 lap race, subsequently crashing into a wall and sustaining a skull fracture. He died the next day following the accident.

Driver Name: Joe Weatherly (USA)
Date of Death: January 19, 1964
Circuit: Riverside International Raceway
Situation: Joe Weatherly tragically died from head injuries during a race at Riverside International Raceway, the fifth race of the 1964 season. His head struck a retaining wall after going outside the car, leading to his death. Weatherly was not wearing a shoulder harness and did not have a window net installed, as he feared being trapped in a burning car.

Driver Name: Fireball Roberts (USA)
Date of Death: July 2, 1964
Circuit: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Situation: During a race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Fireball Roberts’ died when his car crashed into the wall, causing an explosion and fire. Despite being rescued from the wreck, Roberts suffered severe burns and complications from the accident, which led to his death from the injuries a few weeks later.

Driver Name: Jimmy Pardue (USA)
Date of Death: September 22, 1964
Circuit: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Situation: While conducting a tire test for Goodyear at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Jimmy Pardue suffered a tire blowout that led to him losing control of his car. The vehicle crashed through the guardrail and ended up outside the track. Pardue died at the scene.

Driver Name: Billy Wade (USA)
Date of Death: January 5, 1965
Circuit: Daytona International Speedway
Situation: Billy Wade was performing a tire test at Daytona International Speedway, when a tire blowout caused his car to crash in the west turn, killing him.

Driver Name: Lou Smith (USA)
Date of Death: June 1st, 1965
Circuit: Fonda Speedway
Situation: During an event on the Fonda Speedway on May 15th, 1965, Lou Smith hit the hub rail, losing both front wheels, and then crashed into the fence near the pit gate. Smith suffered severe head injuries and was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Smith remained unconscious and died on June 1, a week after the accident.

Driver Name: Walter Pepper Eastman (USA)
Date of Death: August 14, 1965
Circuit: Fonda Speedway
Situation: During a Sportsman car event, Pepper Eastman’s car flipped on the track thrice in the race and had to be admitted to the hospital immediately. However, he couldn’t survive the injuries and passed away soon after.

Driver Name: Buren Skeen (USA)
Date of Death: September 6, 1965
Circuit: Darlington International Raceway
Situation: During the second lap of the 1965 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, Buren Skeen’s car spun and was hit on the driver’s side. The lack of strength in the roll cage caused the driver’s side door to be completely smashed in.

Driver Name: Harold Kite (USA)
Date of Death: October 17, 1965
Circuit: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Situation: Just one lap into the National 400, Harold Kite was caught in a five-car pileup on the fourth turn. His vehicle collided with others and slid down the embankment. He was hit broadside in the driver’s side door by Jimmy Helms. Kite was pronounced dead on arrival at the infield hospital.

Driver Name: Max Wiki Jr. (USA)
Date of Death: September 10, 1966
Circuit: Champion Speedway (Brisbane, California)
Situation: Max Wiki lost control of his car, flipped over multiple times, and then he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Driver Name: Billy Foster (CAN)
Date of Death: January 20, 1967
Circuit: Riverside International Raceway
Situation: While practicing for the NASCAR Motor Trend 500, Billy Foster’s vehicle suffered a brake drum failure, crashing into the wall on the driver’s side, striking his head on the barrier, resulting in his death almost instantly.

Driver Name: Cliff Rogalsky (USA)
Date of Death: June 3, 1967
Circuit: San Jose Speedway (at East Tully Road & Quimby Road in San Jose, California)
Situation: During a heat race in the NASCAR Super Modifieds series, Rogalsky’s car collided with others and hit the crash wall. It is believed he suffered fatal head injuries from striking the roll bar. He died on the way to the hospital.

Driver Name: Don MacTavish (USA
Date of Death: February 22, 1969
Circuit: Daytona International Speedway
Situation: This is known as one of the one of the worst NASCAR wrecks in history. On lap nine of NASCAR Grand National Series race, MacTavish’s vehicle collided with Bob James’s car, leading to a violent crash with the outside wall. The impact sheared off the front of MacTavish’s car, and the engine was thrown 100 feet. The car spun around and faced oncoming traffic. MacTavish was exposed in the driver’s seat and was struck by Sam Sommers, who couldn’t see the car due to smoke and debris. The crash resulted in MacTavish’s death immediately.

Driver Name: Talmadge Prince (USA)
Date of Death: February 19, 1970
Circuit: Daytona International Speedway
Situation: During the second 125-mile qualifying race for the Daytona 500, Talmadge Prince’s vehicle blew an engine and went into

Driver Name: Art Ellis (USA)
Date of Death: July 3, 1971
Circuit: Fairground Speedways
Situation: Art Ellis was killed when his car ran off the track and struck a light pole during the race. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Driver Name: Link Toland (USA)
Date of Death: July 30, 1971
Circuit: Clovis Speedway (Clovis, California)
Situation: Link Toland died when he attempted to pass another driver, Al Costa, on the straightaway at the Clovis Speedway. Their cars collided, causing Toland’s vehicle to flip end-over-end eight times before coming to rest near a power pole. Despite not being ejected from the car, Toland suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

Driver Name: Raymond Lee “Friday” Hassler (USA)
Date of Death: February 17, 1972
Circuit: Daytona International Speedway
Situation: Friday Hassler tragically died on the scene during on lap 19 of the Daytona 500 when competing driver David Ray Boggs’ car blew a tire, triggering a 13-car pileup. Hassler’s vehicle spun into the infield grass before veering back onto the track and slamming into the outside wall. His car was then broadsided by another driver’s dodge causing it to crash into the wall again. Friday Hassler died on the scene and instantly.

Driver Name: Larry Smith (USA)
Date of Death: August 12, 1973
Circuit: Alabama International Motor Speedway
Situation: During the Talladega 500, Smith spun his 1971 Mercury on lap 14 and hit the Turn 1 retaining wall. Although the car only sustained minor damage, Smith’s pit crew discovered during the caution flag that he had not survived the crash. Track doctors confirmed that he had died from massive head injuries.

Driver Name: Lou Harton (USA)
Date of Death: August 17, 1973
Circuit: Lee Raceway
Situation: Lou Harton lost control of his car entering the first turn of a Feature Race, causing it to skid into the pit entrance area, where it struck a flagman named Thomas Lanagan and narrowly missed a policeman. The car then slid into a cement retaining wall, being pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

Driver Name: Tiny Lund (USA)
Date of Death: August 17, 1975
Circuit: Alabama International Motor Speedway
Situation: On the seventh lap of the Talladega 500, Tiny Lund collided with J.D. McDuffie, causing a scramble on the track. Lund’s vehicle was hit broadside by another car, knocking him unconscious and causing his vehicle to burst into flames. Spectators and driver Walter Ballard managed to rescue the other driver, but Lund was extricated by track rescue teams. He lost his life later at the infield hospital from severe chest and internal injuries.

Driver Name: Bob Zwemke (USA)
Date of Death: September 20, 1975
Circuit: San Jose Speedway (at East Tully Road & Quimby Road in San Jose, California)
Situation: Bob Zwemke, a regular racer at San Jose Speedway, tragically died after an accident during practice for a NASCAR supermodified event. His rear axle broke, tearing open the fuel tank and causing a fire. With no fire crew at the track, Zwemke suffered critical burns and was transferred to a hospital with a burn unit in San Francisco, where he passed away six days later.

Driver Name: Bill Spencer (USA)
Date of Death: January 18, 1975
Circuit: Riverside International Raceway
Situation: Bill Spencer died in an accident during the Permatex 200, while running fifth on the 57th lap, Spencer’s car crashed into the wall at turn six, involving no other cars, and it reportedly happened due to brake failure. Spencer perished on his way to the hospital.

Driver Name: Clint McHugh (USA)
Date of Death: January 15, 1978
Circuit: Riverside International Raceway
Situation: During practice for a NASCAR modified sportsman race at Riverside, Sonny Easley died when his vehicle slid across the track and crashed into a trailer and pickup truck near pit road.

Driver Name: Tim Williamson (USA)
Date of Death: January 12, 1980
Circuit: Riverside International Raceway
Situation: Tim Williamson’s Chevrolet Camaro hit a wall, leading to severe chest injuries, and he was pronounced dead at Riverside Community Hospital shortly after the accident.

Driver Name: Ricky Knotts (USA)
Date of Death: February 14, 1980
Circuit: Daytona International Speedway
Situation: Ricky Knotts was competing in a 125-mile heat race at Daytona International Speedway, aiming to qualify for the Daytona 500. During the 14th lap, his Oldsmobile lost control, hitting the outside wall and then the inside concrete wall, resulting in a fatal crash, dying instantly. At the time of the accident, he had no prior experience at mile circuits or longer, and current regulations would have prevented him from racing in the Daytona 500 without previous intermediate track experience or participation in the ARCA series.

Driver Name: Dave Furioni (USA)
Date of Death/Accident: April 24, 1982
Circuit: Riverside Park Speedway
Situation: Dave Furtoni perished from severe injuries after his car’s accelerator stuck during a NASCAR Modified qualifying race, as his car collided with another vehicle, became airborne, and crashed into a barrier and chain-link fence. Furioni was pronounced dead an hour later.

Driver Name: Bruce Jacobi (USA)
Date of Accident: February 17th, 1983
Date of Death: February 6th, 1987
Circuit: Daytona International Speedway
Situation: On February 17th, 1983 during Daytona Speedweeks, driver Bruce Jacobi lost control of his vehicle, flipped, and crashed near the inside dirt bank. He was rushed to Halifax Medical Center with a bruised brain stem and a severe eye injury. He remained in a comatose state for almost four years, eventually passing away on February 6th, 1987.

Driver Name: Joe Young (USA)
Date of Death: February 13, 1987
Circuit: Daytona International Speedway
Situation: In the Komfort Koach 200, a crash on lap 27 resulted in Joe Young’s death. An engine failure caused oil to spill on Turn 4, leading to several cars spinning out. The tire smoke from the wrecked cars obscured Young’s vehicle, and another car crashed head-on into Young’s car as his car was sliding backwards. Young was killed instantly at the scene.

Driver Name: Terry Schoonover (USA)
Date of Death: November 11, 1984
Circuit: Atlanta International Raceway
Situation: After hitting the outside wall of the track, Terry Schoonover’s car slid into the infield and struck a dirt embankment at high speed. He was removed from the car with the help of safety crews and airlifted to a hospital, where he died from his injuries. This marked the first fatality at the Atlanta International Raceway.

Driver Name: Richie Evans (USA)
Date of Death: October 24, 1985
Circuit: Martinsville Speedway
Situation: He was just 44 years old when he was killed in a crash at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. Evans lost control of his car while practicing for the Winn-Dixie 500 and crashed hard into the wall in turn three. He suffered massive head injuries and died instantly.

Driver Name: Bob Bean (USA)
Date of Death: November 10, 1985
Circuit: Montgomery International Raceway
Situation: Bob Bean lost control of his car while exiting Turn 2 at Montgomery International Raceway, causing it to spin, become airborne, and crash into an embankment at around 70-80 mph. The passenger side struck a light pole, and Bean was extracted from the car after its roof was cut off. He was rushed to Jackson Hospital but was pronounced dead at 5:45 p.m.

Driver Name: Charles Ogle (USA)
Date of Accident: December 15, 1985
Date of Death: December 26th, 1985
Circuit: Daytona International Speedway
Situation: Charles Ogle was testing his Pontiac Sunbird at Daytona International Speedway for the upcoming season when his car blew a tire at around 160 mph. The car went sideways, dug into the infield grass, and became airborne for about 100 feet before landing on its roof and sliding through the chicane area. Ogle suffered massive head injuries, including brain stem damage, likely from his head dragging on the ground during the slide. Initially in serious condition, his status worsened, and he died on December 26th, 1985.

Driver Name: Rick Baldwin (USA)
Date of Accident: June 14, 1986
Date of Death: June 12, 1997
Circuit: Michigan International Speedway
Situation: On June 14, 1986, during the Miller American 400 at Michigan International Speedway, Baldwin was substituting for Buddy Arrington in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. While qualifying, Baldwin spun and hit the wall driver’s side first between turns one and two, suffering massive head injuries. He died in a comatose state eleven years later on June, 12, 1997.

Driver Name: Charlie Jarzombek (USA)
Date of Death: March 22, 1987
Circuit: Martinsville Speedway
Situation: Charlie Jarzombek, struck the wall in his vehicle on the second turn of his sixth lap in the 200-lap Modified event. He died at the scene.

Driver Name: Corky Cookman (USA)
Date of Death: July 19, 1987
Circuit: Thompson International Speedway
Situation: During a NASCAR Modified Tour race, Corky Cookman’s car reportedly had a stuck throttle and crashed into the concrete wall. He was taken to Day Kimball Hospital where he died from his injuries on the same day.

Driver Name: John Gay (USA)
Date of Accident: August 20, 1988
Date of Death: September 3rd, 1988
Circuit: Evergreen Speedway
Situation: On the 12th lap of a Super Stocks race at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Washington, a fiery four-car accident involved Leonard Sundholm, Ralph Lewis, Steve Hurley, and John Gay. Sundholm’s car stopped on the backstretch, and Gay collided with it, causing an explosion and fire. Hurley then crashed into Gay’s car, and Lewis drove through the flames. Gay, severely burned, was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center but died 13 days later.

Driver Name: Don Williams (USA)
Date of Accident: February 17th, 1979
Date of Death: February 17, 1989
Circuit: Daytona International Speedway
Situation: During the Permatex 300 at Daytona on February 17, 1979, Don Williams was involved in a major crash that began when Freddie Smith’s car spun and was hit by Joe Frasson, whose car burst into flames after hitting the wall. Delma Cowart then collided with Frasson at full speed, and Williams, trying to avoid the wreck, crashed his #68 Chevrolet Chevelle into the wall. Williams sustained head and chest injuries, a fractured right arm, and an aneurysm in his right eye. He was left in a comatose state for almost ten years, eventually passing away on February 4th, 1989.

Driver Name: Frank Carlotta (USA)
Date of Death: May 27, 1989
Circuit: Santa Clara County Fairgrounds
Situation: During a race, Frank Carlotta’s car rolled over multiple times and struck a wall, leading to fatal head injuries. He was taken to the hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Driver Name: Don Pratt (USA)
Date of Death: September 17, 1989
Circuit: Pocono International Raceway
Situation: During the 39th annual NASCAR race of champions, Don Pratt’s car crashed into a wall, dying instantly from his injuries.

Driver Name: Grant Adcox (USA)
Date of Death: November 19, 1989
Circuit: Atlanta International Raceway (now Atlanta Motor Speedway)
Situation: Grant Adcox crashed on lap 202 of the final race of the season at the Atlanta International Raceway, dying of major chest and head injuries, while also suffering a heart attack from the crash. After investigation, it was found that the severe impact tore the chair from its mount entirely, leading to Adcox’s death.

Driver Name: Tony Jankowiak (USA)
Date of Death: April 22, 1990
Circuit: Stafford Motor Speedway
Situation: On the 154th lap of a 200-lap event, Tony Jankowiak’s car collided with another vehicle while trying to pass on the outside. Jankowiak’s front left wheel hit the other drivers’ right front wheel, causing his car to bounce off and crash into the wall. The crash resulted in a fatal neck injury. Jankowiak was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead about 50 minutes after the accident.
Driver Name: David Gaines (USA)
Date of Death: May 16, 1990
Circuit: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Situation: During a practice session at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, David Gaines’ car slowed for a wreck of two cars in front of him, but was rear-ended by another vehicle. Gaines’ vehicle stopped, and then he was hit broadside by competing driver Steve McEachern.

Driver Name: John (J.D) Mcduffie (USA)
Date of Death: August 11, 1991
Circuit: Watkins Glen International
Situation: On the fifth lap of the 1991 Budweiser at The Glen, J.D. Mcduffie’s car collided with Jimmy Means after a mechanical failure caused McDuffie to lose his brakes and steering. With no gravel trap to slow him down, McDuffie skidded across the grass and crashed into the outside retaining wall and tire barrier, causing his car to flip and land upside down. J.D. Mcduffie’s cause of death was a basilar skull fracture at the scene.

Driver Name: Gary Batson (USA)
Date of Accident: May 15th, 1992
Date of Death: May 16, 1992
Circuit: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Situation: Gary Batson was severely burned in a two-car crash during a qualifying race when Batson’s Chevrolet collided with competing driver Neal Connell’s car. Batson’s car hit the wall, trapping him on its side, and leaked fuel that ignited, causing a fire. Connell was unharmed, but Batson, who had burns over 80% of his body was rescued and taken to Cabarrus Memorial Hospital before being airlifted to a burn center. He died the next day at the hospital.

Driver Name: Troy Rouse (USA)
Date of Death: August 1, 1992
Circuit: Tucson Raceway Park
Situation: Troy Rouse, known as “The Pink Panther of Tucson Raceway Park,” was killed in a NASCAR race at Tucson Raceway Park shortly before his 19th birthday. During the 25-lap Street Stock feature, Rouse’s rear axle broke on lap 19, causing his car to swerve and roll over. It was then struck by another driver’s car, resulting in Rouse’s neck being broken. Rouse was airlifted to Tucson Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead later that day.

Driver Name: Clifford Allison (USA)
Date of Death: August 13, 1992
Circuit: Michigan International Speedway
Situation: During practice for the Detroit Gasket 200 at Michigan International Speedway, Clifford Allison spun and hit the concrete wall on the driver’s side. It was reported that the driver’s seat ripped off of the restraints and that Allison was unrestrained during the crash. He died while being transported to the hospital.

Driver Name: Joe Booher (USA)
Date of Death: February 12, 1993
Circuit: Daytona International Speedway
Situation: During the Florida 200 NASCAR Goody’s Dash Series race, Joe Booher lost control after clipping competing driver Carl Horton’s Pontiac, hitting the wall, and then being struck by Rodney White. Booher sustained massive head and internal injuries and died at the hospital.

Driver Name: Neil Bonnett (USA)
Date of Death: February 11, 1994
Circuit: Daytona International Speedway
Situation: During the first practice session for the 1994 Daytona 500, a broken shock mount caused Neil Bonnett to lose control of his Chevrolet on the fourth turn. The car swerved onto the track apron and then back up the steep bank, and then crashing head-on into the wall. Bonnett then died at the scene.

Driver Name: Rodney Orr (USA)
Date of Death: February 14, 1994
Circuit: Daytona International Speedway
Situation: At practice for the second round of Daytona 500 qualifying, driver Rodney Orr spun entering turn two and his car lifted, crashing into the outside wall at over 175 mph. The caution light was impaled into the car’s roof. Orr, who sustained massive chest and head injuries, was pronounced dead at the scene. This death came three days after the death of Neil Bonnett.

Driver Name: Wayne McCarthy (USA)
Date of Accident: June 3rd, 1994
Date of Death: June 4, 1994
Circuit: Speedway USA (Bolivar, Missouri)
Situation: During his second season at Speedway USA, Wayne McCarthy was competing for the lead in a heat race when he spun and crashed driver-side first into the concrete wall on the 6th lap. He was taken to a hospital in Bolivar, MO, and then airlifted to Cox South Medical Center in Springfield, MO, where he died at 11:30 AM the following day.

Driver Name: Charles Raymond “Rayme” Johnson (USA)
Date of Death: July 22, 1994
Circuit: Speedway USA (Bolivar, Missouri)
Situation: On the second lap of a NASCAR sanctioned race, while battling for first place, Rayme Johnson’s car became airborne and hit the retaining wall on the driver’s side. It took 30 minutes to extricate him from the wreckage. Johnson was airlifted to Cox South Medical Center in Springfield, where he died shortly after 11:00 PM the same day.

Driver Name: Billy Joe Pressley (USA)
Date of Death: September 24, 1994
Circuit: New Asheville Speedway
Situation: Billy Joe Pressley died after losing control and colliding with another car on the twenty-third lap of a stock car race. He passed away shortly after being taken to Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville.

Driver Name: Russell Phillips (USA)
Date of Death: October 6, 1995
Circuit: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Situation: (GRAPHIC CONTENT: Reader Discretion Advised)

On lap 17 of the Winston 500, Russell Phillips’ vehicle was struck by competing driver’s Steven Howard’s car, which was trying to avoid a spinout.

The collision resulted in Phillips’ car being dragged along the catch fence, shearing off the roof and exposing the driver’s compartment. Phillips was dismembered by the fence and decapitated in what was described as an exceptionally gruesome wreck. The track was heavily damaged and littered with debris, blood, a helmet, and several body parts, requiring a 40-minute red flag before the race resumed.

At the time, NASCAR vehicles did not yet have the “Earnhardt bar,” a roof support bar running down the middle of the windshield.

Driver Name: Mike Cooke (USA)
Date of Death: February 3, 1996
Circuit: Phoenix International Raceway
Situation: Mike Cooke was killed while attempting to qualify for the Copper World Classic, a NASCAR Southwest Tour race. His vehicle went out of control and struck a wall. Emergency crews extricated Cooke from the wreckage, and he was flown to a local hospital, where he died later that night.

Driver Name: John Nemechek (USA)
Date of Accident: March 16, 1997
Date of Death: March 21, 1997
Circuit: Metro-Dade Homestead Motorsports Complex
Situation: John Nemechek was competing in a Truck Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway when, with 14 laps remaining, he lost control and crashed into the first-turn wall, hitting its driver’s side first. John Nemechek’s cause of death was severe head injuries, and he was transported to a hospital, where he died on March 21, 1997, a few days after the accident occurred.

Driver Name: Adam Petty (USA)
Date of Death: May 12, 2000
Circuit: New Hampshire International Speedway
Situation: In a practice session for the Busch 200 race, Adam Petty’s throttle stuck wide open as he entered the third turn of the track, causing his car to crash almost head-on into the outside wall. The impact instantly killed Adam Petty, as he suffered a basilar skull fracture with his neck snapping violently from the impact. He suffered from the same injuries as Kenny Irwin, Jr, who died almost two months later.

Following Adam Petty’s death, NASCAR started to mandate switches to shut off the engine on the steering wheels of every drive, while also putting restrictor plates in every car’s engine.

Driver Name: Kenny Irwin Jr. (USA)
Date of Death: July 7, 2000
Circuit: New Hampshire International Speedway
Situation: During practice for the thatlook.com 300, Kenny Irwin crashed head-on into the wall, causing his car to flip onto its side. The car slid for a significant distance before rolling onto its roof. Irwin died instantly at the scene from a basilar skull fracture.

He was pronounced dead from multiple injuries after being transported to Concord Hospital. Track officials delayed announcing his death for over four hours.

Driver Name: Dwight Wrich (USA)
Date of Death: September 30, 2000
Circuit: Crawford County Speedway
Situation: Dwight Wrich, 38, passed away from injuries sustained in a crash at Crawford County Speedway in Denison, Iowa. The accident occurred during the O’Reilly Auto Parts Hawkeye 100 when Wrich’s car lost control, flipped five times, and caught fire while he was competing for the lead. Despite efforts to rescue him, fuel poured over him, and he passed away the next night at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Driver Name: Tony Roper (USA)
Date of Accident: October 13, 2000
Date of Death: October 14, 2000
Circuit: Texas Motor Speedway
Situation: At the Craftsman Truck Series O’Reilly 400, Tony Roper was involved in a fatal accident while attempting to pass two other drivers. His truck made contact with another vehicle, causing it to veer into the concrete wall. Roper was unconscious when extricated and airlifted to a hospital, where he was found to have a severe neck injury that prevented blood flow to his brain. Despite being placed on a ventilator, Roper died the next day. This was the third NASCAR death in 2000.

Driver Name: Dale Earnhardt (USA)
Date of Death: February 18, 2001
Circuit: Daytona International Speedway
Situation: This is the most notable and tragic NASCAR death in history. NASCAR driver and team owner Dale Earnhardt was involved in a fatal crash during the final lap of the Daytona 500. Andy Petree was Earnhardt’s crew chief when he died. After colliding with Sterling Marlin and Ken Schrader, Earnhardt’s car struck a retaining wall, leading to a basilar skull fracture that killed him instantly. He was pronounced dead at Halifax Medical Center shortly after the crash. Earnhardt was 49 years old and his death was highly publicized, being the fourth NASCAR driver to die from a basilar skull fracture within eight months.

In response to this tragedy, NASCAR implemented significant safety improvements, including the mandatory use of head-and-neck restraints, the installation of SAFER barriers, stricter seat and seat-belt inspection rules, and the development of a safer race car. Since Earnhardt’s death, no driver has died during a race in NASCAR’s three major series.

Driver Name: Michael Roberts (USA)
Date of Death: March 24, 2001
Circuit: Lebanon I-44 Speedway
Situation: Lebanon I-44 Speedway experienced its first fatal accident in its 18-year history when  Michael Roberts from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, lost his life during a private testing session. While preparing for his first race, Roberts lost control of his car and crashed into a wall. He was quickly transported to St. John’s Breech Regional Medical Center in Lebanon, where he was pronounced dead due to multiple injuries, including a basilar skull fracture, similar to the one that killed Dale Earnhardt a month earlier.

Driver Name: Mark Hutto (USA)
Date of Death: April 13, 2002
Circuit: Altamont Raceway Park
Situation: Mark Hutto was racing in the Sportsman Late Model main event. According to witnesses, Hutto’s car was forced off the track, slid across the dirt infield, and crashed into a concrete retaining wall. The impact was severe, and Hutto was declared dead at the scene by the Alameda County coroner’s office.

Driver Name: John Baker (USA)
Date of Death: June 8, 2002
Circuit: Irwindale Speedway
Situation: John Baker, a NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series driver, tragically died during a 150-lap race after a severe crash on the 36th lap. He had been running in eighth or ninth place after starting the race. While slowing down on the second turn of the half-mile oval, Baker was hit from behind by another car attempting to pass, causing him to crash violently into the break in the wall at the entry and exit gate. His death marked the first fatality in the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series and the fourth at Irwindale Speedway in four years.

Driver Name: Tom Baldwin Sr. (USA)
Date of Death: August 19, 2004
Circuit: Thompson International Speedway
Situation: Tom Baldwin Sr. died during the New England Dodge Dealers 150, while on lap 10, he spun into the infield to avoid another car and collided with a concrete block protecting a light pole, hitting the block driver’s side first.

Driver Name: John Blewett III (USA)
Date of Death: August 16, 2007
Circuit: Thompson International Speedway
Situation: During a Whelen Modified race at Thompson Speedway, John Blewett III tragically lost his life in a crash. He spun out and was struck in the driver’s door by a car driven by his brother, Jimmy.

Driver Name: Carlos Pardo (MEX)
Date of Death: June 14, 2009
Circuit: Autódromo Miguel E. Abed
Situation: During the 97th lap of a 100-lap NASCAR Mexico Corona Series race at Autódromo, Carlos Pardo was leading the race with four laps to go, Pardo collided with Jorge Goeters as Goeters attempted to overtake him. Pardo’s car spun and struck a concrete retaining wall at over 200 km/h (120 mph), dying on impact. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead.

Driver Name: Shawn Balluzzo (USA)
Date of Death: July 11, 2020
Circuit: Langley Speedway
Situation: Shawn Balluzo died following a crash of the second of two modified division races at Langley Speedway. His car went airborne after bumping another car and crashing front-first into a wall. He was taken to the hospital and he died of his injuries the same day. This was the last NASCAR driver to die in recent years.

NASCAR Safety Changes After The Death of Dale Earnhardt

After the death of Dale Earnhardt, there were many safety changes that were implemented across NASCAR, including:

• Mandating the use of the HANS device, a head restraint and safety device, that was not used by Dale Earnhardt when he died.
• Requiring SAFER barriers at the tracks where top races and tours occur.
• Migrating to different harness systems.
• Adding New Roll Bars which have greater follow protection, and regularly adding new safety features to its Next Gen vehicles.

Since requiring these changes, there have been no deaths or injuries in NASCAR’s top three cups.

Did Dale Earnhardt, Sr. Die Instantly?

A commonly asked question about Dale Earnhardt, Sr. is “Did Dale Earnhardt Die Instantly?” The answer to that question is Yes. His cause of death was a Basilar Skull Fracture which killed him on the spot. Although it’s debated what the exact cause of his death was, many experts agree that the fracture was the primary contributor of Dale Earnhardt’s death, which remains a tragedy to this day.

Conclusion

While every death that has happened in NASCAR is a tragedy, it serves as an essential reminder for NASCAR to implement the necessary changes to keep their drivers safe. While these changes are necessary, every person who died at one of these events serves as an important reminder to remember those who perished.

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