Talladega Superspeedway, the biggest oval and fastest track in NASCAR, has a history of carnage. The Alabama speedway is where high-speed pack racing and wafer-thin margins for error coexist. It has seen some of the largest and most legendary wrecks in motor sports history. Below is an overview of some of the most famous and epic crashes that have made Talladega’s history.
2024: The Record-Breaking 28-Car Pileup
The largest NASCAR Cup Series crash of all time technically, the 2024 YellaWood 500 had 28 cars swept into a massive pileup with five laps remaining. The pileup began when front-runner Austin Cindric was turned by a bump from Brad Keselowski. That set off a chain reaction that eliminated nearly the entire front pack. Playoff contenders Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, and Daniel Suarez were among the drivers that were involved in the accident something Florida Tampa traffic cameras lawyer can help with if you’re ever in an accident on the road. The red flag stopped the race, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won with a dramatic three-wide finish.
#45: Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, Jordan Brand Toyota Camry celebrates his win with chaos and crashes in the race for the flag behind
2002: The Big One of the Busch Series
In the Aaron’s 312 Busch Series event, Talladega witnessed the largest crash in the recent history of NASCAR. In lap 14, 31 vehicles were in a crash that began when Scott Riggs slowed. This resulted in a chain reaction, which overturned Johnny Sauter’s car and cleared the track. The crash took out nearly three-quarters of the field.
2009: Carl Edwards’ Flight into the Catch Fence
Carl Edwards was near the end of the Aaron’s 499 when he was struck by Brad Keselowski, and Edwards flew into the catch fence. Debris came raining into the stands, reminding everyone about the perils of running restrictor-plate races. Edwards, in a miraculous escape, went uninjured. Another famous crash was that of Bobby Allison’s car flying into the catch fence at well over 200 mph at the Winston 500. That crash led to the introduction of restrictor plates to slow speeds at Daytona and Talladega, altering the sport forever.
1996: Dale Earnhardt’s Flip in the DieHard 500
“The Intimidator” was in a horrific wreck when his vehicle rolled and was hit on the windshield and roof by traffic. Although bad, Earnhardt walked over to the ambulance, showing his legendary toughness.
2017: The Alabama 500 Chaos
A 17-car, lap-mileup at the Alabama 500 yielded numerous red flags. Chase Elliott and Daniel Suarez were two drivers who were involved in crashing into the wall. The accident displayed Talladega’s crazy finish line.
1979: Cale Yarborough’s Near-Death Experience
One of the earliest and most frightening wrecks, Cale Yarborough was a party to, was a 17-car wreck in the Winston 500. He thought he had lost both legs but made an unbelievable comeback and won the following week, being part of NASCAR history.
Why Talladega Wrecks Are So Common
Talladega’s design encourages pack racing, with vehicles nearly bumper to bumper at over 190 mph. A single mistake can usher in “The Big One,” a multivehicle wreck that is nearly inevitable on the superspeedway. Despite safety equipment like roof flaps, catch fences, and lift systems, the track is among the most dangerous NASCAR tracks.