NASCAR: Revisiting The Violent Wrecks At Pocono
Ever since their first race in 1971, Pocono has been known for long green flag runs and vicious wrecks. When the cars go into turn one they are going well over 200 MPH and wrecking at that speed is always going to be bad. If you click on the drivers’ names that are bold it will take you to the video of the wreck.
Jun 10, 2012; Long Pond, PA, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Landon Cassill (83) drives back to the garage after a crash during the Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
In 1980, going into the second turn, Richard Petty lost his right front wheel and slammed into the wall and the car nearly flipped over. Petty would have been OK if Darrell Waltrip had not come and hit him in the driver’s side door which injured Petty.
In 1982, Dale Earnhardt broke his leg at Pocono when he and Tim Richmond got together going into turn one and went into the wall causing Earnhardt to get upside down. Tim Richmond helped Earnhardt get out of the car and to the ambulance.
In 1988, Bobby Allison suffered a life threatening and career ending injury. He was complaining of a tire going down right at the start of the race and was going to come in to the pits that lap. When he got to the second turn the car slammed the wall and then was hit drivers side almost at full speed by driver Jocko Maggiacomo. Allison suffered massive head injuries and forgot a lot of his racing career. His son Davey Allison experienced a horrific wreck in 1992. He got tapped by Darrell Waltrip on the back stretch and the car got airborne and barrel rolled numerous times. The car actually went over the inside guard rail.
A wreck no one ever seems to mention is Greg Sacks’ and Lake Speed’s in 1989. Going into turn one the two got together and both cars slammed the wall causing Sacks to flip over many times. The wall where they hit was actually gone. Lake Speed was sidelined for a few races as a result of the track.
Steve Park and Dale Earnhardt Jr got together on the backstretch in 2002 and Park hit the inside wall and barrel rolled many times.
In 2003, Jeff Green driving the same car as Steve Park did the year before got tapped and hit what was a dirt pile and the car nearly came to stop. Ken Schader also flipped in turn one also in 2003 and his car caught fire afterwards but Kenny was OK.
Jeff Gordon had one of the most vicious wrecks of his career at Pocono in 2006. His brakes started to go and he hit the wall drivers side first. It took him some time to get out of the car but he was OK.
Four years later Pocono saw two more violent wrecks. Kasey Kahne nearly went out of the track in the closing laps of the race in 2010. He didn’t which caused many other cars to hit him but, he was OK. Elliott Sadler had one of the worst wrecks in NASCAR history at Pocono. His car hit at a 90 degree angel with no SAFER barrier wall and the car went on its side and the engine flew out of the car. Somehow, Elliott made it through safely.
Pocono has seen its share of wrecks in its history and it probably always will. With the new Gen 6 car running as fast as it is it wouldn’t surprise me if we see a lot of wrecks on Sunday