NASCAR running thread

http://espn.go.com/racing/nascar/cup/story/_/id/7874497/nascar-talladega-87-changed-sport-forever

Twenty-five years after Bill Elliott went airborne, Ed Hinton looks back on the restrictor-plate era.

 

Just read that article. While I think the "1,000 people" might be hyperbole, it would have been a tragedy unlike anything we've seen in American sports. I was watching that race on TV in 1987 with my family and it's one of the few times I can remember the entire house immediately going quiet for several minutes.

 

Great read.

 

Um, it was Bobby Allison who went airborne. Bill Elliott set the fastest speed record at 'Dega.

Still, a stellar read.

 

Great read, but Ed failed to mention that after the race restarted, the late, great Davey Allison earned his first career Winston Cup victory. RIP Davey.

Bobby's crash could have been terrible, but I honestly think Edwards' hit into the fence could have been worse if not for the safety improvements made in the catch fencing as a result of Allison's wreck.

 

If 10 is "We've lost Dale Earnhardt", that McClure crash looked like about a 9.5.

 

I missed it, but saw them talking aboutit while trying to get the roof off. They said he was speaking, so I relaxed a little.

McClure is a good guy. Been through enough shit in the past 18 months.

 

Once they finally showed the replay -- 15 minutes after the crash -- it looked like McClure accelerated on his way into the wall.

 

Hard not to think the worst after seeing it full speed and then getting no replay and no closeups, combined with McClure not getting out of the car.

 

I thought this same thing when I saw the replay. His car was going fast and then seemed like it accelerated into the wall.

(Just watched a replay in slow-stop motion. McClure's car shot ahead when he came off the 15 as they were sliding toward the wall.)

Stanley Smith's crash into the Turn 1 wall at Talladega back in 1993 almost killed him. Same kind of injuries that killed Earnhardt and Bonnett. Kind of hard to believe it's almost been 20 years since then.

That was the same crash that sent Jimmy Horton's car over the wall and down the outside embankment. Craziest thing to see a car just disappear.

 

Just saw the at-speed video of that. Holy shit.

 

McClure's sister (also his PR person) posted that he's talking, but they're keeping him overnight for observation.