The Big One (motorsport)

The phrase The Big One refers to an accident involving roughly eight or more cars in NASCAR stock car racing.

Though multi-car pileups have occurred at nearly every NASCAR track, the term is largely reserved for large Sprint Cup accidents at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. Less frequently, the term is applied to multi-car wrecks in Nationwide, Truck, and ARCA series accidents at these tracks, and when they raced there, the Dash Series. The first incident recognized as a "Big One" occurred during the 1990 Pepsi 400.

Four races in particular are at risk:

• Daytona 500
• Aaron's 499
• Coke Zero 400
• AMP Energy 500

The Budweiser Shootout and Gatorade Duel are also held at Daytona, but their smaller fields mean less risk of pileups. They occasionally also happen during practice sessions.

Dover International Speedway is also a place where cars frequently pile up, because of tight areas of the track.

Also sometimes even one mile and a half tracks like Texas Motor Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Phoenix International Raceway also happens usually on restarts because of outside and inside walls on the frontstretch.

Causes

Typical pack racing at Daytona

The 43 cars or 36 trucks in a NASCAR race often run in one to three packs, sometimes only inches apart, while traveling over 300 km/h (186 mph) in three- or (at Talladega mostly) even four- or five-abreast formation. This may be exacerbated in recent years, when restrictor plates and new safety rules have yielded cars with fewer performance variations. This is especially true at Talladega, where handling is not a major factor and packs seldom break up for long.

The close quarters allow small margin for error. One error or sudden mechanical failure can cause a chain-reaction crash, with cars scrambling to avoid the crash often getting caught up in separate incidents. Tire smoke often reduces or eliminates visibility, and wrecked cars may partially or completely block the track. Cars well behind the accident can get caught up in the crash due to poor visibility or debris.

During long stretches of green-flag racing (particularly at Daytona), the cars typically spread out around the track. But during a yellow flag, the pace car picks up the leader of the race, and the remainder of the field catches up and "packs up" behind it. When the flag returns to green, the tightly bunched, nose-to-tail lineup reduces maneuvering room during acceleration to racing speed. It is not uncommon for several smaller crashes or one big crash to occur immediately after a yellow period. This phenomenon has been referred to as "Cautions breeding cautions."

As a general rule, a "Big One" will include a minimum of seven cars, but usually has at least ten cars involved in the crash.

In the 1990s key areas of slick and often rutted grass infields were covered with asphalt skid pads, which scrub speed from spinning cars.

Coining the phrase

Typical three-wide pack at Talladega Superspeedway in 2008.

Until the 1990s, massive crashes were referred to as "major," or "terrific" crashes.

By the mid-1990s, competitors and media began taking note of the multi-car wrecks at Daytona and Talladega. In 1997, Dale Earnhardt described a final-lap crash at the 1997 Pepsi 400 as "the Big Wreck". News articles began using the term "Big Wreck" to describe such crashes in 1998, and by 1999, its use was widespread. Drivers began to openly admit they were apprehensive of its possibility.

One of the first times the term "The Big One" was used on-air was during the Winston 500 on ESPN October 11, 1998. Commentator Bob Jenkins said during the crash on lap 134 "this is the big one we hoped we would not have." One of the first published instances of the term "The Big One," was an April 18, 2000, article on ESPN.com about a crash in the DieHard 500. The term was also being used informally by fans on message boards.

During the 2001 Daytona 500 Fox commentator Darrell Waltrip used the term on-air to describe the crash on lap 173: "It's the big one, gang; it's The Big One. It's what we've all been fearing."

By 2001, the phrase was widely used by competitors, fans, and in print and broadcast media. It soon became standard NASCAR vernacular, and became a retronym to describe past such accidents as well.

The Big One has been the subject of criticism of NASCAR. Some have complained that the sanctioning body, promoters, and media have celebrated the crashes.

By 2009, Talladega Superspeedway itself marketed itself on the notorious crashes, with a third-pound frankfurter sold at the track calling itself "The Big One".

List of Big Ones

Perhaps the most notable pileup of the early years occurred during the 1960 Sportsman 250 in which 37 cars crashed in turn four in the first lap (out of a starting field of 68). There have been some other Big Ones in pre-restrictor plate races as well.

The 1973 Winston 500 in which was the first ever big one at Talladega eliminating 21 cars in a 60-car field including Wendell Scott's Career ending crash. The 1979 Winston 500 had a similar incident, this one involving 17 cars.

It also happened in the 1986 Daytona 500, involving eight or nine cars. In the 1986 Talladega 500, there were three multi-car wrecks, including one on the final lap.

In 1987, a pileup ushered in changes to NASCAR superspeedway racing. On the 22nd lap of the Winston 500, a tire blew on Bobby Allison's car, sending it into an airborne spin at over 200 mph. The car crashed into the catch fencing protecting the grandstands, ripping down a large section, demolishing his car, and colliding with several other cars.

Following that race, NASCAR introduced safety rules to slow the cars at Daytona and Talladega for the remainder of the 1987 season. 390 CFM carbs were mandated two months later at the next race in question. During the final lap of the 1987 Pepsi Firecracker 400, Ken Schrader got loose and flipped over near the finish line, collecting Harry Gant.

After Schrader's flip, NASCAR decided further regulation was necessary. In 1988, starting with the season-opening Daytona 500, NASCAR mandated restrictor plates at the two tracks. But it was the 1990 Pepsi 400 that led to the modern "Big One" crashes.

Further information: [[:Restrictor plate#NASCAR|Restrictor plate § NASCAR]]

Sprint Cup Series

1990

• Pepsi 400: Polesitter Greg Sacks and Richard Petty were among a pack of cars running three-wide through the tri-oval at the completion of lap 1. Sacks' car was sent spinning in front of the rest of the field. Approaching Turn 1, 22 more cars were collected in the huge pileup. The top six cars escaped the incident. This is regarded as the original "Big One".

1991

• Winston 500: Down the backstrech on lap 71, Mark Martin and Kyle Petty were battling for 7th position, when Ernie Irvan slipped between them. All three cars came together and started spinning in front of the rest of the field. Martin's car lifted off the ground, but did not flip over. Nearly every car from 7th place on back was wrecked, damaged, or spun to the muddy infield. In total, 20 cars were involved. The top six cars escaped the incident. Petty suffered a leg injury and therefore missed the next 11 races.

1992

• Daytona 500: Battling for the lead on lap 91 down the backstrech, Ernie Irvan, Sterling Marlin, and Bill Elliott went three-wide. The three cars came together, and spun to the infield, collecting most of the field. 14 cars became involved in the crash, many seriously damaged. Davey Allison and Morgan Shepherd were among only a handful of cars unscathed, and they finished the race 1st-2nd.

1993

• Winston 500: Ten cars were wiped out on lap 130 when cars running three-wide crashed out of turn four. Later, a caution set up a restart with 2 laps to go. Coming around for the checkered flag on the final lap, the cars fanned out three and four wide through the trioval. Dale Earnhardt tagged the back of Rusty Wallace's car, sending him spinning backwards. The car lifted, and crossed the finished line in the air on its nose. It came down and flipped wildly in the infield grass, very reminiscent of the crash earlier in the year at Daytona.
• Sears DieHard 500: On lap 69, Stanley Smith and Jimmy Horton got together in turn one, collecting six other cars. Horton's car went up the track and over the outside wall. Horton's number 32 car tumbled out of the racetrack down the embankment, and came to rest on a dirt access road. Though Horton was not seriously injured, Smith suffered a nearly-fatal basilar skull fracture; he would eventually recover. The incident led track officials to install catch fencing along the entire perimeter of superspeedways, rather than just in spectator areas.

1994

• Winston Select 500: Consecutive Big Ones took place on Lap 103 in a race for third when Todd Bodine came down on Greg Sacks and spun into Jeff Gordon. The three cars spun, with Sacks escaping, and collected about 8 other cars. Mark Martin slid out of control into the infield, hit the inside wall, went through a guardrail, through a chain-link fence, and plowed into a guardrail protecting the infield road course. His car was only feet from a spectator area. After the field bunched up for the restart, another Big One occurred in the tri-oval. Terry Labonte's car, running 14th, was tapped from behind, starting a chain-reaction crash collecting at least 14 other cars in turn 1.

1995

• Sears DieHard 500: Down the backstrech with 50 laps to go, 8th place Jeff Gordon clipped Ken Schrader's car, sending Schrader spinning backwards. Ricky Craven hit Schrader's car, sending it flipping into grass, rolling over eight times. At least 11 other cars were collected.

1996

• Winston Select 500: A huge crash in turn one on lap 130 took out 14 cars. Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin checked up on the outside entering turn one, and spun into the path of the field. Martin collected Ricky Craven, sending Craven's car flipping up the banking and into the outside wall. Six cars were demolished.
• DieHard 500: Battling for 10th place on lap 102, John Andretti slid up into the car of Dale Jarrett. The resulting melee blocked the track and collected as many as 15 cars. Andretti, however, was the only car sidelined. Fifteen laps later, a bigger crash occurred. Battling for the lead in the tri-oval, Sterling Marlin tried to pass Dale Earnhardt on the outside. Ernie Irvan tapped Marlin from behind, sending Marlin's car into that of Earnhardt. Both cars slid hard into the outside wall. Earnhardt's car flipped over, and was demolished. About 6 cars escaped on the inside, while the rest of the field became tangled up in the incident. Ten cars were wrecked beyond repair, and several more were involved (including some already damaged from the first wreck). The crash led to the use of the "Earnhardt bar," a piece of steel tubing in the rollcage to prevent the roof from collapsing during a roll-over. Earnhardt suffered a broken collar bone in the crash. A red flag ensued, and because of the late start, the race ended with a five-lap shootout on the ensuing restart.
  • This was the last Sprint Cup race to air on tape delay of a minimum one week delay, having aired on week after it was run, and after another race had been run the previous day.

1997

• Daytona 500: With 12 laps left Dale Earnhardt was going for his first 500 win in 19 years when he hit the wall then into Jeff Gordon then Terry Labonte bump into Ernie Irvan while Dale Jarrett bump into Earnhardt sending him rolling over and Irvan's hood went over the backstretch grandstand injuring some fans. Amazingly Earnhardt drove his car to the pits and finished the race 5 laps down in 31st. Then with 5 laps to go in turn 4 a big crash involving 13 cars including Johnny Benson, Bobby Hamilton, Joe Nemechek and Dale Jarrett. This one ended under caution as Gordon won his first 500 and Hendrick Teams finished 1-2-3.
• Interstate Batteries 500: In Turn 1 on the first lap in the first Texas cup race ever, more than 12 cars involved in this massive pile up. Drivers include Johnny Benson, Dale Earnhardt, Kyle Petty, Todd Bodine who is sub for injured Ricky Craven & Darrell Waltrip who is the only car to be sidelined after that accident.
• Pepsi 400: A crash with less than 5 laps remaining set up a green flag restart with one lap to go. The field took the green and white flag at the starter's stand, and battled into turn 1. Down the backstrech, with John Andretti leading, the field fanned out 4 and 5 wide. Ward Burton was forced down into the grass, and as they approached the banking in turn 3, his car slid up and four cars tried to squeeze into the turn. Mark Martin poked his nose between Dick Trickle and Dale Jarrett, causing Burton, Martin, and Trickle to crash hard into the outside wall. Several other cars slipped by, but Derrike Cope and Bobby Hamilton were unable to avoid the spinning cars, and both plowed head on into Burton's and Martin's cars respectively. NASCAR until 2004 would elect to finish races under caution instead of allowing one or two lap finishes on plate races.
• DieHard 500: At lap 140, Jeff Gordon cut a tire and spun into Sterling Marlin, triggering a chain reaction involving 23 cars. The wreck took out many Winston Cup contenders, including Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt, among others.

1998

• Texas 500: In a repeat in a previous year's huge turn 1 lap 1 crash, this time a big lap 2 turn 1 crash involving 10 cars that which includes Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip Earnhardt's own race team, Kenny Wallace and Rick Mast & John Andretti cars are stuck in the turn 1 wall. This accident causing a red flag for over 10 minutes.

• Sears DieHard 500: With 48 laps to go, Ward Burton clipped Dale Earnhardt , sending Earnhardt into Bill Elliott . Both collide and crashed into the wall hard and Elliott's car went on its side near the start-finish line, involving Ricky Rudd, Michael Waltrip, Chad Little, Ken Schrader and others collecting others in the multi-car crash.

• UAW–GM Quality 500: On lap 202 of 334, Bobby Labonte ran into the oil, spun in turn 1 and took out at least 11 other cars including his brother Terry Labonte, Dale Earnhardt, his teammate Mike Skinner, Ricky Rudd, Rusty Wallace, his Penske teammate Jeremy Mayfield and Geoff Bodine.

• Winston 500: On lap 134, Sterling Marlin gets in the back of Ernie Irvan and spins hard in the wall, then gets hits hard by Dick Trickle and championship contenter Mark Martin. Total at least 8 cars involved including Dale Earnhardt, Ward Burton and Johnny Benson. Ernie Irvan was injured, but amazingly he raced the following week at Daytona, which would be his last race of the season as he missed the final three races. The wreck ended Mark Martin hopes for winning the championship and opening the door to Jeff Gordon as he go on to win his third cup title in four years.

1999

• Daytona 500: On the 135th lap, Dale Jarrett was sent to the apron after contact from his teammate Kenny Irwin Jr. and causes the big wreck in turn three as Jarrett went upside down, plus eliminated Mark Martin, Terry Labonte, Elliott Sadler, Sterling Marlin, Jeff Burton, Geoff Bodine and few other drivers involved thus eliminated drivers from contention.

• Sears DieHard 500: On lap 49 of 188, Tony Stewart was drafting Mike Skinner until Skinner was shoved into the grass and thus spinning and collecting Jeff Gordon, Rusty Wallace, Chad Little, Ernie Irvan, Brett Bodine among them.

2000

• Sears DieHard 500: On lap 138 of 188, Robby Gordon turned Scott Pruett into Michael Waltrip. Pruett escaped the wreck, but contact with Sterling Marlin sent Gordon spinning across the track along with Waltrip & over 10 cars are wrecked including, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Ricky Rudd, Ken Schrader, points leader Bobby Labonte, Tony Stewart, Steve Park and many others.

2001

• Daytona 500: With 27 laps to go, a huge crash occurred on the backstrech. Running fourth in line, Robby Gordon got into Ward Burton, and collected Tony Stewart. Stewart's car lifted high into the air, and tumbled several times, being hit by other cars as it came down. 18 cars were caught up in the wreck, and at least 15 cars are heavily damaged, many of them destroyed. Bobby Labonte's car caught a small fire, Stewart's was demolished. A lengthy red flag came out to clean up the debris. This crash would be overshadowed by Dale Earnhardt's fatal crash on the final lap.

• Pepsi 400: With 19 laps to go, a big crash occurred during final green flag pit stops. Mike Wallace slowed coming off Turn 4 for pit road. Mike Skinner slowed to avoid running into Wallace. However, Kurt Busch bumped the back of his car & turned him into the outside wall collecting over 10 cars including Bobby Hamilton, Sterling Marlin, Terry Labonte, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, among others.

• EA Sports 500: On the last lap, heading into turn two, Bobby Labonte blocked Bobby Hamilton until Labonte spun and went upside down, involving several other cars including Johnny Benson, Jason Leffler, Sterling Marlin, Robby Gordon, Mike Wallace, Ricky Craven, Terry Labonte, Buckshot Jones and others, as Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won the race, his first of four straight wins at Talladega.

2002

• Daytona 500: On Lap 148 of 200, Jeff Gordon drafted Kevin Harvick. When Harvick blocked Gordon's move, he got loose, spun and it causes mayhem which in turn one collected Ricky Rudd, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Hamilton, John Andretti, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Kenny Wallace, Casey Atwood, Jeremy Mayfield thus eliminated several drivers.

• Carolina Dodge Dealers 400: Late in the race on lap 226 at Darlington in turn 2, Tony Stewart the leader ran into lapped car of Buckshot Jones both spun crating a track blocker filled with smoke then the rest of the field get collected. Eleven cars were involved, including Mark Martin, Kurt Busch, Johnny Benson, Jimmy Spencer, Ken Schrader who hit Stewart hard and Jeff Gordon got some damage. Sterling Marlin missed the wreck and go on to his 10th and final cup series career win. Stewart was injured and was relieved by Kyle Petty at Bristol middle of the race the following week.

• Aaron's 499: On lap 164 of 188, going into the first turn, Jimmie Johnson shuffled Kyle Petty out of line. Coming on to the backstretch, Petty found a spot in line, but everyone slows up, resulting into a chain reaction crash, when Mike Wallace forced Tony Stewart into the wall, leading to a chain-reaction accident involving 24 cars. Among the drivers involved were Elliott Sadler, Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Mark Martin, Bobby Labonte, Johnny Benson, Rusty Wallace and Bill Elliott. Sadler took the biggest hit in the wreck by slamming the corner of the inside wall with the right side. However, all of the drivers, including Sadler, escaped injury.

• Pepsi 400: Late in the race Dale Jarrett was spun out by Jeff Burton, who was also involved and thus collecting several cars and collecting Joe Nemechek who had hard impact, also involved in the wreck, Steve Park, Brett Bodine, Jimmie Johnson, Terry Labonte, Mike Skinner, among others involved.

• UAW–GM Quality 500: On lap 230 of 334, Todd Bodine makes it 3 wide down the frontstretch but the left side of bodine's car ran into wet grass from the rain earlier and slid up into Ward Burton and Jeff Green and takes out 7 other cars including his brother Brett Bodine, Ricky Craven and Green's teammates Robby Gordon and Kevin Harvick.

2003

• Aaron's 499: On lap 4 of 188, The Big One strikes, with 27 cars collected - the largest crash in a Sprint Cup race in the modern era. Ryan Newman blew a right front tire, slammed the wall & spun across the track, taking Ricky Rudd, Mark Martin, Kyle Petty, eventual race winner Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Bobby Labonte, Rusty Wallace, Casey Mears, Johnny Benson, Jamie McMurray and many more with him. During the crash, Newman's flat tire bounced of the hood of Rudd's #21 Ford and over the fence.

• Auto Club 500: On lap 231 with 19 to go, a multi-car crash in turns 1 & 2 which involving Dale Jarrett who hits the wall hard and collecting 6 others Including Larry Foyt, Johnny Benson and Jeremy Mayfield.

• Pepsi 400: At lap 75, on the backstretch, Kurt Busch blew a left front tire, spun onto the apron, came back across the track & collected a total of 7 cars, including polesitter Steve Park, Robby Gordon, Jamie McMurray & Ricky Craven.

2004

• Daytona 500: Lap 71 of 200, coming onto the backstrectch, Johnny Sauter got loose. When he went to save it, he made contact with Brian Vickers & defending race winner Michael Waltrip & touched off a 12-car wreck. During the crash, one of Waltrip's rear tires came off & as he got in the grass, it dug into the dirt & flipped 3 times, landing him on his roof. He was OK. Others involved include Robby Gordon, Jamie McMurray, Sterling Marlin, Ryan Newman, Johnny Benson, John Andretti & many others.

• Aaron's 499: On lap 83, in Turn 3, Kurt Busch & Tony Stewart get together, causing a 10-car pile-up involving Kasey Kahne, Terry Labonte, Rusty Wallace, Ward Burton, Kenny Wallace & more.

• MBNA 400 - A Salute to Heroes: On Lap 349, a 19-car incident takes place on a restart where the leader pits, but lapped cars do not pit, allowing lapped cars to be ahead of the leader on the ensuing restart (until June 2009, that was possible).

2005

• Daytona 500: Scott Wimmer gets taken out by Kevin Harvick. Harvick then continues to avoid the wreck as Kasey Kahne gets no place to go. Joe Nemechek hits the outside wall hard. On the inside Scott Wimmer hits the apron, and then starts flipping wildly, approximately 5-7 times.

• Golden Corral 500: At Atlanta Motor Speedway on the first lap in the backstretch, Scott Riggs taps in the back of Casey Mears, spun him around and collecting several others including Jeff Gordon, 6-time Atlanta winner Bobby Labonte, Matt Kenseth, Shane Hmiel, Travis Kvapil, Kurt Busch and Jeff Burton.

• Aaron's 499: Lap 132: The Big One strikes, with 25 cars involved in a wreck, when Mike Wallace, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. get together. Fox studio analyst Jeff Hammond estimated the total damage at $8 million. No injuries reported but the race was red-flagged for about 40 minutes for extensive cleanup.

• UAW-Ford 500: On lap 20 in turn 1, Elliott Sadler the pole sitter got hit from behind by Jimmie Johnson, spins and collecting 8 other cars including 5-time Talladega winner Dale Earnhardt, Jr., championship contender and 2-time winner Mark Martin and 2003 fall race winner Michael Waltrip who gets the worst of it as he was fliped over 2 times. On lap 65, Casey Mears gets turned sideways and collects at least 11 other cars, including Jimmie Johnson, Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Casey Mears, Rusty Wallace, Jeff Gordon and Scott Riggs. Riggs gets the worst of it as he turns upside down and then flips again at least 9 times. The crash took place On the front straightaway right after the exit to pit road.

2006

• Aaron's 499: The Big One strikes early on lap 9 when cars try to make 5 wide going into turn 3 but Kyle Busch got loose and slid up into Martin Truex, Jr. and taking Ryan Newman, Mark Martin, Sterling Marlin, David Stremme, Ken Schrader, Kevin Harvick, Bobby Labonte, Kasey Kahne, and others with him.

• UAW-Ford 500: Going into turn 1 on lap 137, Carl Edwards came down and gets into Casey Mears and took out 12 other cars including chase drivers Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin.
  • This race was marked by Brian Vickers' first Sprint Cup Series win after taking out his teammate Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the backstretch on the final lap.

• Bank of America 500: After just completing the first lap, 14 cars were involved in a massive wreck including chase driver Denny Hamlin, Jamie McMurray, Robby Gordon, Martin Truex, Jr., Mike Bliss and Joe Nemechek.

2007

• Daytona 500: On the last lap of the 2007 Daytona 500, with Mark Martin and Kevin Harvick battling for the lead coming out of turn 4, Kyle Busch rubbed up against Matt Kenseth causing both to spin. Busch spun down into the entrance of pit road, while Kenseth ran up the track into the wall, causing multiple cars to wreck throughout turn 4 and the tri-oval. Clint Bowyer's car flipped over and slid across the start/finish line on its roof and on fire, before sliding into the grass and righting itself. Other drivers involved include Jeff Gordon, Sterling Marlin, Juan Pablo Montoya, David Stremme, David Gilliland, Greg Biffle and Casey Mears.

• Coca Cola 600: On the 53rd lap, a huge 16-car pile up down the frontstretch which involving Tony Stewart, Dave Blaney, Martin Truex Jr., Elliott Sadler, Sterling Marlin, David Gilliland, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jamie McMurray, Clint Bowyer and others after Jimmie Johnson's left rear tire tread came off after contact with A.J. Allmendinger. Ten laps later, Tony Raines got loose coming out of turn 4 and took out the points leader Jeff Gordon, who hit the wall hard, lifting his car's wheels off the ground; A.J. Allmendinger, Jeff Burton and Robby Gordon were also involved. Gordon climbed out of his car unhurt.

• UAW-Ford 500: On lap 144 of the fall Talladega race, Bobby Labonte appeared to have a tire go down at the very top of the racetrack. He then went down the hill and collected about 8-9 more cars, including championship contenders Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch. Others involved included Jamie McMurray, David Ragan, Paul Menard, Robby Gordon, Brian Vickers, and David Reutimann.

2008

• Daytona 500: With 12 laps left in turn 3, Kevin Harvick bumped the back of Dave Blaney, who went up the banking in front of Juan Pablo Montoya, whose car cut a tire, hit hard in the wall, and took Mark Martin and others with them, including Denny Hamlin who was involved the other incident on lap 176 in turn 2 which involved 2006 winner Jimmie Johnson and 2 time winner Michael Waltrip. However, the only car damaged too severely to continue in the race was Blaney's.

• Auto Club 500: Early in the race, Casey Mears got loose and spun in Turn 2 and collected Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the wall, then Sam Hornish, Jr. hit Reed Sorenson and then jacked Mears' car up and turned over on its roof. Travis Kvapil also received minor rear-end damage in the wreck. No drivers were injured. This led into a long red flag period to repair water seepage on the track and the remainder of the race went Sunday into Monday due to rain.

• Aaron's 499: In Turn 1 on the final lap, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Jamie McMurray got together, collecting 10 cars, including Elliott Sadler, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne, David Stremme, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Burton and Joe Nemechek

• Best Buy 400: More than 10 laps in the race in Turn 2, David Gilliland tapped Elliott Sadler and hit the outside wall, then came down the track into Tony Stewart and then they all piled in. In all, 12 cars were involved, including Scott Riggs, Dale Earnhardt, Jr, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Bill Elliott, Paul Menard and Sadler's teammate Kasey Kahne; several were key point contenders at the time. This led to a red flag for massive cleanup.

• Coke Zero 400: Michael Waltrip got turned by Sam Hornish, Jr. on the final lap in Turn 1, collecting at least 11 cars including J.J. Yeley, Martin Truex, Jr., Terry Labonte, Patrick Carpentier, Travis Kvapil and several others.

• AMP Energy 500: The First Big One on Lap 68 collects 9 cars when Brian Vickers blew the right front tire down the frontstretch, this accident included Kasey Kahne, Martin Truex Jr., David Gilliland, to name a few. With 16 laps to go, Roush teammates Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth got together while racing three-wide for second place, triggering a 12-car pile-up in turn 3, which took out Juan Pablo Montoya, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Kevin Harvick, Michael Waltrip, Kyle Busch, and many more.

2009

• Daytona 500: With rain soon approaching, on the 124th lap, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Brian Vickers triggered a large crash on the backstrech. After two pit-stop miscues, Earnhardt, Jr. was a lap down and lined up with Vickers on the "lapped cars" inside column for a restart. The two cars were near the front of the field battling each other to be the first car one lap down, which under the beneficiary rule entitles the driver to advance one lap on the next caution period (although prior to June 2009, it was not permitted in the final ten laps of the race). Earnhardt dove below Vickers, and Vickers moved over to block. The two cars made contact, and Vickers spun into the pack. At least twelve cars were involved, including Kyle Busch, who had dominated much of the race up to that point.

• Aaron's 499 (Lap 7): The first big wreck happened on lap 7 when Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon driving the retro 1983 Pepsi Challenge paint scheme used by Darrell Waltrip that year, were racing side by side and they got lose and caused mayhem, collecting Mark Martin, David Gilliland, Scott Riggs, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, A. J. Allmendinger, Jamie McMurray, Max Papis and others, an overall of fourteen cars and knocking cars to fail to finish the race. Martin got the worst of it as he went up and over the hood of Riggs and smacked the wall hard. On Lap 180, Denny Hamlin and Juan Pablo Montoya touched and caused the second big wreck. Other drivers involved were Robby Gordon, who took a hard hit into the wall, Jimmie Johnson, David Stremme, Michael Waltrip, Jeremy Mayfield, Martin Truex, Jr., Sam Hornish, Jr., and Bobby Labonte, collecting at least nine or more cars.
  • This race marked by Brad Keselowski's first Cup Series win after Keselowski bumped Carl Edwards, sending him flipping into the catchfence and nearly into the grandstands; eight spectators were injured. This was also the first win for Phoenix Racing and owner James Finch in 19 Cup seasons.

• Coke Zero 400 (Lap 77) Jamie McMurray and David Stremme got together, sending Stremme into Kasey Kahne and collecting 13 cars in all. (Lap 160) Coming to the checkered flag, Kyle Busch tried to block the advancing Tony Stewart for the victory and they got together. Busch spun to the right and hit the wall drivers' side, then got lifted in the air when Kasey Kahne drove under the back of his car. Many others cars were collected, including Busch's teammate Joey Logano, Jeff Burton, A. J. Allmendinger, Greg Biffle, Robby Gordon and others. The points lost by Busch in this incident, instead of conceding the pass, eventually were enough to cost him a Chase position.

• Pepsi 500: At the Auto Club Speedway late in the race with 6 laps to go, a big 9 car-wreck occurred down the frontstretch going into turn 1 involving Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Marcos Ambrose, Brian Vickers, Matt Kenseth, Jeff Burton and all four Richard Petty Motorsports cars (Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler, A. J. Allmendinger and Reed Sorenson). This wreck led to a red-flag period of almost 22 minutes.

• AMP Energy 500: On Lap 190 (a green-white-checker finish caused by Ryan Newman's blowover crash on Lap 184 and ensuing laps under caution, which was not a Big One because of an insufficient number of cars involved), Brad Keselowski got into Kurt Busch and turned him, collecting many other cars. Martin Truex, Jr. smacked the wall and then came down, hitting Juan Pablo Montoya and Mark Martin. Martin got the worst of it as he rolled over one and a half times, but was able to drive his car back to pit road. Other drivers like Jeff Gordon and Robby Gordon were involved in this wreck as well.

2010

• Kobalt Tools 500: After Carl Edwards sent Brad Keselowski flipping on the frontstretch, which eventually led to Edwards being parked by NASCAR, the race went into its first green-white-checker attempt. Kurt Busch went into the lead in turn 1, then in turn 3 Jamie McMurray got loose and hit Clint Bowyer and Kyle Busch, collecting Martin Truex, Jr, Mark Martin, Denny Hamlin and David Gilliland. Kurt Busch went on to win on the second attempt and back-to-back Atlanta spring races. This was the last spring race at AMS, which will run only on Labor Day weekend in 2011.

• Samsung Mobile 500: At Texas Motor Speedway, six days before the Aaron's 499, David Reutimann had an engine failure on Lap 309, resulting in a caution flag. Some cars took two and other cars took four tires. On the ensuing restart on Lap 317 of 334, Tony Stewart, who took two tires, restarted on the outside. Some cars (Jimmie Johnson) had taken four tires. In a four-abreast race off Turn 4, Carl Edwards tapped Stewart, who tapped Jeff Gordon, leading to a crash that also involved Paul Menard, Clint Bowyer, Joey Logano, A. J. Allmendinger, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Jamie McMurray, among others.

• Aaron's 499: At Talladega Superspeedway, on lap 83 Kyle Busch turned Johnny Sauter, triggering a 8-car wreck on the tri-oval including Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, Michael Waltrip, Max Papis and Paul Menard. However, only the Waltrip, Papis and Sauter cars were out of the race after that wreck. Late in the race on the first green-white-checker attempt, Joey Logano turned Ryan Newman, sending a group of 9 cars hard into the outside wall.

• Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500: On the final lap in a green-white-checker attempt at Pocono, Kasey Kahne tried to pass A.J. Allmendinger on the inside; Kahne got into wet grass and spun in front of Greg Biffle and Mark Martin, plowing hard and nearly flipping over and almost out of the track. This wreck took out 11 cars including Jeff Gordon, Marcos Ambrose, Martin Truex Jr, Elliott Sadler and Ryan Newman who hit the wall in turn 3 but still crossed the start/finish line in fourteenth spot.

• Coke Zero 400: With twelve laps to go, Kurt Busch got into Jeff Burton, and turned him into Sam Hornish, Jr. Behind them, Juan Pablo Montoya turned Brad Keselowski into Reed Sorenson into Jimmie Johnson. The smoke from these incidents reduced visibility to the point that most of the field was collected behind them. Mark Martin pounded the outside wall and was flaming until he got to pit road. In all, 18 cars were involved, but no drivers were seriously injured.

• AMP Energy Juice 500: Shortly after taking the white flag, A. J. Allmendinger stuck his nose between Tony Stewart and Michael Waltrip. 9 cars were collected, and Allmendinger got the worst of it, blowing over onto his roof and flipping. All drivers involved escaped injury.

2011

• 2011 Daytona 500: On lap 29 going into turn 4, Michael Waltrip got into the back of David Reutimann, causing a wreck that involved Mark Martin, Marcos Ambrose, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Greg Biffle, Brian Vickers, Brian Keselowski, and many others. This accident is notable for its potential impact on the 2011 championship race:
  • Johnson is the five-time defending Cup Series champion; Biffle and Gordon were also in the 2010 Chase; and some of the other drivers are seen as potential contenders.
  • The NASCAR points system was changed for 2011. Most notably in the context of this accident, the points gap between the winner and drivers at the back of the pack is much greater than in past points systems. This means that the drivers involved in this incident will have more difficulty making up points than in previous seasons. However, their task was made slightly easier by the fact that winner Trevor Bayne earned no points—he did not have a full-season ride in the Cup Series, and chose to compete for the championship in the Nationwide Series. (Under another 2011 rule change, drivers can earn championship points in only one of the three national series in a given season.)

Nationwide Series

1999

• Yellow Freight 300: on lap 134 in turn 4 at Atlanta, Geoff Bodine taps Phil Parsons around and involving 11 other cars including Mark Martin, Dick Trickle, Matt Kenseth, Michael Waltrip and Wayne Grubb

2002

• Aaron's 312 race on lap 14 which is the largest crash in what is now named NASCAR Nationwide Series history with 29 cars including Johnny Sauter who was fliped, Scott Riggs, Joe Nemechek, Michael Waltrip, Joe Ruttman, Jimmy Spencer, Ron Hornaday, Johnny's brothers Tim and Jay Sauter and Joe Gibbs Racing cars Mike McLaughlin and Coy Gibbs. This one brought out the red flag for about 40 minutes.

2003

• O'Reilly 300 (Nationwide): 10 Laps to go shortly after the restart, a huge crash in turn 1 involving more than 12 cars including Brian Vickers, Coy Gibbs, Michael Waltrip, Ron Hornaday, Hermie Sadler, David Reutimann, Scott Wimmer and Todd Bodine who was the leader gets clipped from behind by Mike Bliss causing a flat right rear tire. The wreck brought out a lengthy red flag. Joe Nemechek who missed the wreck go on to win the race.

• Aaron's 312 (Nationwide): On the 9th lap in turn 4, Johnny Sauter blew a left rear tire creating a 20 car pile up. Michael Waltrip and eventual winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. made it through, but others were collected. Drivers include Mike McLaughlin, Scott Wimmer, Todd Bodine, Kasey Kahne, Kerry Earnhardt, Randy LaJoie, Lyndon Amick and many others.

2005

• Winn-Dixie 250 (Nationwide): With 2 laps to go coming out of turn 2, Jon Wood makes contact with Randy LaJoie and taking more than 10 cars with them including Mike Bliss, Denny Hamlin, Reed Sorenson, Regan Smith and Brian Vickers.

2006

• Hershey's Kissables 300 (Nationwide): Coming out of turn 4 on the final lap, Stacy Compton and Elliott Sadler turned sideways and taking out 10 other cars coming to the checkered flag. Drivers include Michael Waltrip, Kenny Wallace, Ashton Lewis, Reed Sorenson, Mark Green and Denny Hamlin who took the hard hit into Elliott Sadler's car. Tony Stewart won his second straight Daytona February race just seconds after the big accident start.

• Dollar General 300 (Nationwide): At Lowe's Motor speedway after the halfway mark, Tony Stewart and David Reutimann spun off of turn 4 and collecting 10 other cars including Auggie Vidovich II who would involved another wreck on lap 114 , Brad Baker, Mike Wallace, Mike Skinner and Regan Smith who gets the worst of it.

2008

• Aaron's 312 (Nationwide): On lap 70 of 117, Kevin Lepage had returned to the track following a pit stop, and had to return on the track Lepage come out the blend line onto the track right in front of the field, Carl Edwards ramming into Lepage goes up in the air and back on 4 wheels, causing a huge 15 car pile up. The drivers involved include Kyle Busch, David Reutimann, Reed Sorenson, Brad Keselowski, Cale Gale, Patrick Carpentier, Kenny Wallace, Steve Wallace, Marcos Ambrose and Kelly Bires. All drivers were uninjured. Lepage apologized for that incident. This big accident brought out the lengthy red flag to clean up debris and wreck racecars.

2010

• Aaron's 312 (Nationwide):At that same day after the Sprint Cup race, this race was moved Saturday to Sunday because of rain and severe weather, in that race there were 3 big ones: The first one on the 20th lap when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. turned his teammate Carl Edwards in the tri-oval, causing a 12-car wreck including Mike Wallace, Reed Sorenson, Steve Wallace and Michael Annett. This incident took place just before a NASCAR-mandated safety car situation caused by the race postponement. The second one took place with three laps remaining into turn 1 was an 8 car wreck including Colin Braun, Parker Kligerman, Kyle Busch, Steve Arpin and Morgan Shepherd who almost made it by before Kyle Busch hits him. The third one took place on the final lap of the first green-white-checkered attempt proves to be a huge one when Jamie McMurray tried to get back in line on the inside then Clint Bowyer gets in the back and turns him around and causing a huge 21-car pile up in turn 4, Paul Menard gets into Dennis Setzer, sending setzer into the wall and the catchfence nearly goes over and back on the track briefing catching on fire and lands back on 4 wheels. Setzer was OK. The other drivers involved include, Justin Allgaier, Jeff Green, Michael McDowell, Chrissy Wallace, Bobby Gerhart, Brendan Gaughan, Brian Scott, Brian Vickers, Scott Wimmer and Trevor Bayne. All drivers were not injured. Brad Keselowski was the winner after passing Kevin Harvick seconds before that accident happened.

Truck Series

2000

• Daytona 250 (Camping World Truck Series): In the first ever Daytona truck race on lap 56 in the tri oval, a terrible fiery crash happened involving 14 trucks when Kurt Busch makes contact with Rob Morgan and Lyndon Amick then Morgan slid into Geoff Bodine and Bodine went airborne and destroying the catchfence and fliping over 5 times. Bodine's truck was totally destroyed. He was taken to the hospital for injuries and did not race again until May at Richmond. 9 fans were hurt from debris, all other drivers in that crash were uninjured. this huge accident causing a near 2 hour red flag to clean up debris and repairing the catchfence and it was one of the largest crash in Truck Series history.

2004

• Florida Dodge Dealers 250 (Camping World Truck Series): Few laps pass the halfway mark, Jack Sprague hit in the back of Tracy Hines turn it around then back across the track right in front of the pack, causing a huge 16 truck pile-up, which was the largest crash in Truck Series history. The drivers include Ultra Motorsports Trucks are Ted Musgrave and Jason Leffler, Bobby Hamilton, Chase Montgomery, Randy LaJoie, Shane Sieg and Mike Skinner.

2007

• Mountain Dew 250 (Camping World Truck Series): Late in the race coming off in turn 4, Jack Sprague thinking he's coming to pit road but he gets tapped by Johnny Benson and spun right in front of the pack taking 8 trucks with him which that includes Roush Fenway Racing trucks Erik Darnell and Travis Kvapil, Ted Musgrave and championship contenter Ron Hornaday who gets only little right side damage while trying to avoid.

2009

• Mountain Dew 250 (Camping World Truck Series): With 4 laps to go on the backstretch at Talladega, Johnny Sauter triggered a 11 truck pile up which that includes championship point leader Ron Hornaday, Rick Crawford, Ricky Carmichael, Mike Skinner, Brian Scott and Max Papis who almost made it through.

2010

• Mountain Dew 250: With three laps to go, Alabama native Grant Enfinger bumped Todd Bodine into the lead pack on the end of the front straightaway. Seven trucks were collected, and Ron Hornaday, who led much of the race, ended up on his roof.

ARCA

2003

• Food World 250 (ARCA Racing Series): At least 9 cars were involved in turn 4 late in the race including Ken Weaver, Matt Hagans, Boris Said and NASCAR Future star Kyle Busch. This was the same race when Paul Menard got his first arca win.

2008

• Lucas Oil 200 (ARCA Racing Series): Kyle Krisiloff where he's running in second near at the halfway mark, got hit from behind in turn 4, spins right in front of the pack and takes out at least 15 cars including ARCA rookie Scott Speed. This big wreck brought out the red flag to tow wreck racecars and clean up the debris.

Exceptions

Though The Big One has largely become expected during the four restrictor plate races mentioned above since 1990, there have been a few notable exceptions. Three times, a 500-mile race at Talladega has gone the distance without a single caution period for any reason:

• 1997 Winston 500, 188.354 mph
• 2001 Talladega 500, 184.003 mph
• 2002 EA Sports 500, 183.665 mph (Last Caution-free event to date)

No races in the restrictor plate era have been run caution-free at Daytona. However, the 1992 Pepsi 400 (170.457 mph), 1998 Daytona 500 (172.712 mph), and 1999 Pepsi 400 (169.213 mph), and the 2008 Daytona 500 (152.672 mph) were all remarkably clean with minimal incidents, seeing 9 or fewer caution laps.

External links

• "The Big One"- 10 Notorious Talladega Crashes