The Top 10 Most Spectacular Racing Crashes from Which Drivers Walked Away

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Crashes are one of the most exciting and terrifying things to witness in motorsports.  Nowadays there are safety measures put in place to prevent injuries and keep the driver as safe as possible. 

With that being said, crashes are still inevitable. 

Some are definitely worse than others.  It is truly amazing when a driver can just get up and walk away after a gruesome crash. 

Here is a look at the top 10 scary crashes where the driver got up and walked away.

Kasey Kahne: Williams Grove Speedway, 2011

Kasey Kahne is a NASCAR regular.  However, things went bad earlier this season when he participated in the Summer Nationals. Kahne was involved in a terrible crash with driver Craig Dollansky.

Kahne's car catapulted into the air flying over the guardrail in Turn 4.  Track officials said when Kahne's car stopped rolling it was an estimated 30 feet from the track.  Shockingly, Kahne got out of the car and jogged back to the track.

Rusty Wallace: Talledega, 1993

Rusty Wallace Crash

Rusty Wallace has been in his fair share of accidents.  This one occurred May 2, 1993, in the final lap of the Winston 500 at Talladega. 

The crash was caused by Dale Earnhardt, who tapped him into a spin causing Wallace's car to go airborne and flip an incredible six times.  Despite the crash, Wallace still managed to finish sixth as he crossed the line airborne. 

Richard Petty: Daytona, 1988

In the 1988 running of the Daytona 500, Richard Petty was involved in a scary accident.  On lap 160, Petty was bumped by Phil Barkdoll after Turn 4. 

Petty's car went into the air before crashing into the barricade.   Petty's car then landed and was t-boned by Brett Bodine.  Although he walked away, Petty would never finish inside the top five again after this crash.

Carl Edwards: Talledega, 2009

Talladega Superspeedway has had its share of horrific accidents.  Two years ago Carl Edwards was part of a crash that could have been a lot worse.  The crash had debris flying into the stands. 

In 2009, Carl Edwards and his No. 99 car were almost in victory lane.  However, on the final lap just about 500 yards before the finish line Edwards flew against the wall. 

The crash was caused by Edwards trying to block Brad Keselowski from passing him.  Edwards hit the right front of Kesolowski's car causing it to spin and go airborne flying into the fence.

When the car hit the catch fence, pieces exploded off the car as the fence bent back severely but did not break.  Thankfully only eight fans suffered minor injuries.

Nothing short of marvelous, Edwards not only was unharmed but jogged away following the incident.

Clint Bowyer: Daytona, 2007

Clint Bowyer finished the 2007 Daytona 500 in stunning fashion.  He slid across the finish line upside down and on fire.  Bowyer was involved in a multi-car crash on the final lap.

When asked about the crash, Bowyer said,  "Actually, it was pretty cool."

However, I wouldn't call flipping upside down in a car "cool."  Bowyer would climb right out of the car when the car flipped back right-side-up.  Bowyer sure knows how to finish in style.

Michael McDowell: Texas Motor Speedway, 2008

NASCAR has come a long way in protecting its drivers with safer cars.  Michael McDowell's qualifying crash is a testament to that.

In 2008, McDowell crashed into the wall at speeds over 180 miles per hour.

Heading into Turn 1 on his second qualifying lap, McDowell's No. 00 Toyota twitched, then shot up the track as he tried to catch the spin. The rookie slammed nearly head-on into the SAFER barrier, then spun upside down for several hundred yards before the car began a series of at least eight barrel rolls, coming to rest right-side-up on the backstretch.

Luckily, he was not harmed and was able to talk to reporters after the incident.

Mike Harmon: Bristol, 2002

Mike Harmon slammed against the wall at a Busch Series practice at Bristol Motor Speedway.  Harmon crashed into Turn 2 during his qualifying run.  His car was shredded and then hit by driver Johnny Sauter.  Luckily, Sauter hit the side of the car that Harmon was not in.

Harmon's car, as you can see from the video, literally split in half. 

Mike Harmon will never forget this crash.

Micahel Waltrip: Bristol, 1990

Michael Waltrip's head-on crash during the 1990 Budweiser 250 was gruesome.  Waltrip got tapped by Steve Grissom, which sent him straight to the wall at high speeds.  He hit the wall and his Kool Aid Pontaic pretty much disintegrated. 

Waltrip became unconscious for a couple seconds, but regained consciousness and walked away.  In the end he wound up only getting a few bumps and bruises.  

This vicious accident could have been a lot worse.

 

Dale Earnhardt: Talledega, 1996

Dale Earnhardt was always an aggressive driver.  He liked to push the limits.  He earned the nickname "Intimidator" and was fearless in a race car up until his death in the 2001 Daytona 500. 

Five years earlier Earnhardt was involved in a scary crash at Talledega.  Ernie Irvan was attempting to pass Sterling Marlin late in the race.  Irvan hit Marlin, who hit Earnhardt, sending No. 3 head-on into the wall and then flipping and sliding over the track.

His car was hit in the roof and windshield, and the accident led NASCAR to mandate the "Earnhardt Bar," a metal brace located in the center of the windshield that reinforces the roof in case of a similar crash.

In true Dale Earnhardt fashion, he walked away despite a broken collarbone, sternum and shoulder blade.  You can see he even gives a thumbs up to the crowd.

Allan McNish: Le Mans, 2011

This terrifying moment happened earlier this year in a Le Mans 24 Hour race when Allan McNish went flying in the air and smashed into a wall.

Incredibly, he walked away from his Audi vehicle unharmed.  His car was clipped by GTE Pro Ferrari Anthony Beltoise's car while trying to lap the back marker, which caused his car to slide across the gravel before being launched in the air and going out of control.

Luckily, no one on the other side of the barrier was hurt as debris went flying in the air.  This is truly astonishing that no one got seriously injured.