1991 Winston 500 The Big One LIVE

[@thrasherx2k1]

Am I the only one who misses the way they recorded audio back then? Now all we hear is constant fly bys... back then the audio you could hear them on the backstretch on the opposite side of the track and it sounded wicked!

[@nycsongman9758]

My peeve is the ride-along camera, where the audio is only of that whining sound. I like *the roar,* too.

[@bobbywyatt4355]

I miss real racing as demonstrated in this video. NASCAR has messed the product they sell up to the point it is unwatchable!

[@xraciernumbernine2981]

I sure miss this kind of racing.

[@randyhutchinson9910]

xracier numbernine we all do, my friend, we all do

[@PeterMayer]

What racing?

[@bigrooster6893]

This type of racing happens every time there’s a restrictor plate race.

[@RobertLandrum13]

Absolutely. I was 8 years old and this was by far my favorite era of racing.

[@JamesTurner-vy2ul]

So do I! Thank goodness for the safety equipment. U can watch all the old school racing on KZbin!

[@spence7985]

i swear, when u look back at these old races, ernie is involved in all the wrecks

[@antz350]

Swervin Irvin

[@AN-vt8qq]

Benny Parsons best racing announcer ever

[@user-rx6km2de4m]

Absolutely correct!

[@alemarion]

The 90s, where the announcers are heard half the time because of the cars.

[@vinewood8295]

This race was actually run on Monday because it had rained all weekend. I remember comming home from school & watching the finish & being sooo pissed that NASCAR didn't black flag Gant & his teammate because Mast clearly pushed him there at the end. The race to the checkers should've been between Darrell & Dale Sr...

[@DDS029]

That incident did cause a rule change, that no car can be assisted by another after the white flag has been displayed.

[@14stockfan]

I like how the commentator acts like he is talking to Ernie "Don't go between them Ernie. Thank you."

[@BradleyTn20]

Does the racing prior to the wreck not seem a lot more exciting than what you see today? Even if you watch the first part of this and completely disregard who is racing it is still awesome. I don't know... the first part just seemed exciting in comparison to today.

[@Lxhetagyrum]

I was thinking the same exact thing. Even though they weren't right up against each other, they were still all highly competitive, passing and switching lanes and moving around. Definitely more exciting.

[@kn00tcn]

superspeedways are exciting, very tense, a lot of physics involved

[@richardlorith8256]

I agree

[@AlonsoRules]

The tracks were old and worn out. Now with all these repaves, there is no incentive to move around.

[@sweetness34km]

It was

[@gth804f]

"Don't go in the middle of those guys, Ernie! PLEASE!" lol...

[@bigdaddydave3341]

The windshield coming out of Mark Martin's car was what kept him from continuing to sail and eventually flip violently. I understand NASCAR not wanting them to come out of the cars at race speeds because they could fly into the stands with catastrophic consequences, but it popping out acted like the roof flaps do today allowing the air pressure to equalize and set the car back down.

[@andypage9]

They were still using glass windshields then. Extremely dangerous for them to come out.

[@ninjawarrriorr3062]

I don't think he would have gone over anyways, considering how when he lifted off the ground, someone hit his nose and his car straightened out anyways. it was never properly facing backwards enough to go over

[@shockwave315]

The racing was so exciting back then. There was actually space to maneuver. Didn't need 3 wide packs to make it interesting. What a fun few laps before the wreck! Just wish they had the safety of today back then... but i guess that added to the suspense/drama and excitement of it all.

[@aaronkristofer18]

I came here for the crash but like Bradley said down there holy shit that was fun to watch before the crash. I'm actually gonna try to find this full race now.

[@markd1300]

I love it. This is when Nascar was fun to watch. Now there are to many rules. Only a hand full of drivers today are the caliper of the drivers in the 70s 80s and 90s.

[@HotrodsMotorcycling]

When nascar was worth watching, I miss these days

[@bigrooster6893]

Because you only got 35 channels.

[@micheller8014]

HotrodADV71 Is there still a NASCAR series?

[@nascage]

@@micheller8014 There is, but it's called the Monster Energy Cup Series, because I always need to drink several cans just to keep me awake to watch it.

[@randomkdm]

@@nascage are you talking about a Modern Texas race?

[@nascage]

@@randomkdm I'm talking about a modern NASCAR race in general. Sure, some races have their moments, but for me, a lot of races today are nothing more than 150+ mph parades, particularly at the cookie cutter tracks. Just my opinion & perspective.

[@kblackav8or]

The racing was much better back then. Recognizable brands, pretty much the same shape as the car they were based on. Now it is just a spec series.

[@michaelmorris2243]

When Racing was Racing. Miss ya Dale. 😎

[@billbill9499]

It's racing today it's better now.

[@cheanamean]

wow, im not really into nascar that much but the way these guys were racing just had me hooked! this was a good clip even without the crash

[@randyhutchinson9910]

AdrenalizeMe it was all like this, then came, a change, Bill France, god bless him, stepped aside, and his son, Brian France, stepped in, ain't never gonna be the same again

[@Blitzfire87]

Buick and Oldsmobiles racing. It would be cool to see those companys race again

[@dshih199]

even though toyotas these days are more often built in the US than Fords or Chevrolets??

[@aaronkristofer18]

And Pontiac!

[@spencergwin9454]

Buick could, Oldsmobile couldn't.

[@fatpatlives1998]

Oldsmobile defunct and buick is a medium grade luxury car

[@jasonjgr8580]

Rick Campbell , gm is more inported then Toyota.

[@markmidkiff7048]

The good ole days!!!! Good racing, exciting racing, racing back to the caution!!!!

[@jamesgentry13]

This is where kyle petty broke his leg

[@andypage9]

He wore a white uniform that day instead of his usual black, because of the heat. His leg bone was protruding through the uniform and it was soaked with blood. Dale Jarrett ran down the track to check on him, looked down at his leg, turned around and threw up.

[@83joeyd]

This crash happened right in front of me my sister and two cousins… we were so young my cousin kept saying that Cow Patty (Kyle Petty) is dead!!

[@bigdaddydave3341]

I know this video is about the wreck, but I can't help but comment on the way Dale drops low at 1:38. Ned Jarrett said it was because other drivers were working the low line behind him when he was actually catching a bit of a draft from the lapped car ahead of him.

[@robertcroft2800]

Watch Dale at 3:28 effectively side draft Waltrip to beat him back to the line after the wreck... before anyone knew what side drafting was or why it worked.

[@randyhutchinson9910]

BigDaddy Dave yep

[@Heavywall70]

Dale could see air. I was stationed at Fort Bragg which at that time was right in the heart of NASCAR country, The Rock was 45 minutes away, Darlington was an hour away and Charlotte, Martinsville and Richmond were a little over three hours. Each had two races a year and I’d try to catch one at each track every year, but I NEVER missed going to the ROCK, no bad seats and good boiled peanuts

[@lennomenno]

What I would watch every Sunday after church. Now I could care less.

[@tommyzimmermansr.4875]

Yeah.... Too many little rich kids in the sport now days. They didn't EARN the seat they are in, they INHERIT it from their rich dads & granddad's. Use to be driver's with personalities like Earnhardt Sr., D.W., Carl Edwards, Rusty Wallace. Driver's with personalities that a fan could like or dislike that made it more interesting. Now the sport is full of little rich kids still trying to grow up and become race car drivers. Myself and 500,000 more ex fans understand EXACTLY what you mean.

[@mhggggg]

ok boomer

[@jasonrobertsutliff]

Yeah, I could care less about church, too.

[@lennomenno]

Hahaha ! Same.

[@nycsongman9758]

@@mhggggg Wow; where did *that* come from. You're not a brat, just waiting to use that term, are you ?

[@Zoomer30]

Think this was a Monday race, Sunday was rained out.

[@Rx_Vitamin_R]

29 years later and I still curse when I see Mark Martin in that wreck.

[@clarencewilson6343]

Oh yeah I forgot because I watch it now because I'm a dedicated Nascar fan stock car fan I love it it'll get better.. I hope..

[@yojoeski]

I remember one of Felix Sabates' comments after this in which he described Ernie's driving, "He's denying having anything to do with it and the fact is Ray Charles could see that he's the one causing all these accidents."

[@randyhutchinson9910]

yojoeski HAHAHAHAHAHA

[@TrainTrackTrav]

3:10 Skidding sideways past the camera at 120 MPH. That's what God made NASCAR to be!

[@Zoomer30]

He didn't aquire the name Swervin Irvin just because it rhymed. The man was a bonehead. The huge wreck Earnhardt Sr had at Talladega (along with Sterling Marlin) in the tri oval was another vintage Ernie moment (he tapped Marlin who then tapped the #3 who then hit the tri oval wall head on.)

[@bradrieck3303]

He was popular up here in Wisconsin.

[@Beserker3737]

Brisdad53 He has to publicly apologize on more than one occasion because of his bullshit. It was not just west coast hate. Nobody wanted to race with him.

[@AEMoreira81]

Jeffrey Foster Like the next week!

[@charlesc.3909]

This was the first race i ever watched. Good ole days...

[@purwantiallan5089]

Happy new year 2021 everyone. This video is 29 years back.

[@theman13451]

The week before this was Dale Earnhardt getting his 50th win at Martinsville. That was the first Nascar race I ever watched as a kid.

[@leviticus8930]

I was at this race. They raced on a Monday since a monsoon thunderstorm hit that Sunday. I learned the affects of alcohol 🍸 watching people jump off campers and vans to the ground thinking they were hitting water. Parents let me skip school to go to the race. Remember seeing Mark Martin's car in the air. I am fortunate I witnessed this time in Nascar, before they needed KY jelly to function.

[@WheelerMotorsports]

Very Vintage!

[@larrynapier5003]

I was on the backstretch where they came out of turn 2 we lost the competitiveness of Kyle Petty this day it was a Monday the race was rained out on Sunday ! I was pulling for Sterling Marlin and I would be with my friend 3years later when he won the 1994 Daytona 500 ! I wept so happy ! The 22 car Sterling drove were R&D cars ! I told Tony Glover in 93 that the 4 car was perfect for Sterling ! I miss these days !!!

[@SUPEREEVEEMASTER]

One of my favorite crashes in NASCAR.

[@mhlaw229]

I think Irvan had to appoligize to all the drivers the next week at the driver's meeting after this one

[@garrycowan4747]

Yes he did, and If i remember well, other drivers did applaud after his speech. I use to record every race on VHS in the 90's, and watch over and over.

[@r-urelentlessandunstoppable]

Actually...that was in July months later. Irvan caused another accident at Pocono and, at that point, no one was going easy on him. DW remarked that Irvan "was the kind of guy who could hurt you." And Ricky Rudd said that NASCAR needed to start implementing penalties upon Irvan if necessary to regain credibility. And Rusty just was brutally short and honest - "If he hits me, I'm going to crash him." After that incident, it was Talladega and that's where Irvan gave his apology.

[@jhart7304]

Thanks for the post.

[@LASTCARonBROCK]

Man, what a shame that accident happened; that was some incredible racing!

[@JLukeHypernova]

Can you believe it's been 16 years since you made this comment?

[@maybrook1]

I remember watching this and being mad as hell at swirvin' Irvan for taking kyle out.

[@speedf1league]

Kyle Petty was never the same after this wreck...

[@jdtractorman7445]

Swervin Irvan strikes again. I swear him and Jimmy Spencer could be brothers, they both have the same driving style.

[@randyhutchinson9910]

jdtractor man HAHAHAHAHAHA

[@DDS029]

Spencer was aggressive. Irvan was . . . oh . . . let's say he was a challenge to race against.

[@Eibarwoman]

Spencer was a slightly less aggressive and significantly less talented Irvan

[@adame3383]

You are partly correct, Irvan did cause the 96 Diehard 500 big one, but he clipped the apron in the trioval and shot back up into Marlin.

[@ACEofSPADES5597]

Wow even the back stretch was packed...

[@datruth9872]

Pins and needles ! The whole damm race. Ah THE GOOD OLE DAYS of NASCAR. THANKS !

[@jaydenh922]

3:00 is when the crash starts if you can’t wait.

[@068dirtboy]

Ernie Irvan maybe the MOST EXCITING DRIVER EVER!!! didn't matter what track ,Ernie would be all over the track every lap. Ernie was one brave crazy SOB!!

[@DDS029]

And "brave crazy" gets your bell rung one too many times. Like a football player who leads with his head his hole career, and wonders why he always has headaches, and why his arms tingle.

[@redracer1985]

Hey buddy, those full 3 laps before the crash was awesome. I didn't mind watching some old Nascar, like it used to be.

[@randyhutchinson9910]

redracer1985 the way it should be

[@DDS029]

Yep, sometimes you didn't need the draft, sometimes you did, you had your own destiny a lot more in your own hands.

[@cougarlover1]

And this is why Mark Martin has, and will always HATE restrictor plate racing.

[@JruGordon]

isn't this the wreck where Kyle Petty broke his leg?

[@068dirtboy]

YEP. HE JUST GOT A HAIR CUT and swore he would never cut his hair again. to this day he still wears a ponytail.

[@JBird30761]

Hey, don't worry about the additional 3 laps of racing, it's all good. Thank goodness Mark Martin's car never flipped over!

[@HomeDepot20TS]

This is my childhood right here, I was a right at four and a half and I remember sitting and watching it. Thanks for posting it, it means a lot to see even though it was a nasty, nasty accident

[@level5565]

Chevy's, Ford's, Buick's, Oldsmobile's, Pontiac's. Back when NASCAR was about racing. Before Toyota came in with all their money and ruined the sport!

[@edwardmcintyre3708]

It isn't Toyota. It is NASCAR their self's.

[@JJA1987]

No its Toyota ruining the sport and stealing money and shit from other teams

[@fredpoup6428]

Earnarth and Alison🤘

[@utvolfan2012]

I really miss Bob Jenkins and the ESPN crew. Jenkins has done some Indycar stuff for Versus, but it just isn't the same

[@vinewood8295]

This was a horrible crash BUT I was just glad that Dale Sr didn't get caught up in it...

[@homeofthegr81]

Earnhardt and Hamilton running 1-2. Sadly they both are gone and definitley are missed.

[@dylanhills3244]

Hamilton was Rookie of the Year that year, and Earnhardt was Champion.

[@dat6mail]

I remember this race too. I was only 5 but we were getting home from going shopping, and when we parked in our driveway we heard the wreck happening on the radio. So I ran inside to watch it on tv lol.

[@PYLrulz1984]

Mark's car facing forward while it was in the air was what saved the 6 from flipping completly. Just a wild crash

[@liftbig03]

A book by the title of Wide Open, an account of the '96 season, tells of Sterling Marlin almost whipping Irvan''s ass in the garage the week after One-Eyed Ernie nearly killed Dale at Talladega.......back when differences were settle with fists, if necessary. No wonder they called him "Swervin' Irvan" !!!

[@aaronkristofer18]

"Don't go int the middle of those guys Ernie, PLEASE! *mumble* Thank you..."

[@PsychedelicGuy]

Don't worry man....the extra 3 laps are cool to see cuz u get to see them get crazy before the wreck actually happens.

[@sethcorn]

I dont care if there was a crash in this clip that was great racing

[@randyhutchinson9910]

sethcorn yep

[@Posirep]

*had best season ever the next year* Yup. This wreck sure put a stop to it.

[@jasonsechrist1]

Nascar died along with Dale Earnhardt. He raced with passion and the people loved him for it. I think when he died all of the drivers and the people who worked in Nascar lost their nerve.

[@conservativewatchdog3666]

Dale drove a car that Nascar allowed to be better than the others. Just like Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon went on to do. Chase Elliott is the next to drive the "wonder" Chevy. Nascar ruined Nascar.

[@billbill9499]

Nascar is Still here 22 years later.

[@jasonsechrist1]

@@billbill9499 have you looked in the stands, I don't know anyone who watches it. It's nothing like it used to be.

[@billbill9499]

@jasonsechrist1 oh no the stands... not the stands. I forgot to watch the stands and not the race. Have u seen the economy to people can just watch at home for nothing

[@jasonsechrist1]

@billbill9499 like I said I don't know anyone who watches anymore and I live in NC. You can't sit there and say it hasn't declined tremendously. You are in denial. The stands are still full in NFL. College football still full. College basketball and NBA still full. Baseball still full. I can go on and on.

[@askmeab0utmylobotomy]

Shocker: Ernie caused another big wreck

[@AvaLance747]

Swervin' Ervin

[@068dirtboy]

yep. damn he was exciting as hell to watch.

[@nayellysanchez5792]

Ju h

[@lesmach6495]

My exact thought. Swervin' Ervin does it again.

[@OWfan]

"Ernie, don't go in the middle of those guys."

[@gregghatfield9946]

Yep these we the days with the best of racers ... R.I.P.

[@dobermanpac1064]

Ernie always needed GLASSES!... LOL

[@Lycan_Jedi]

Ernie Irvan was driving like an idiot this whole clip. I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner.

[@lesmach6495]

Yeah, he earned his nickname " Swervin' Ervin"

[@SilentDanDisney]

He would cause a similar accident in Daytona on February 14, 1992 and wiping out half the field half the contenders.

[@lw97nilslinuswhitewaterweb15]

How in all world could Bob Jenkins remain that quiet?

[@Flipside6900]

Was this the wreck where Kyle broke his leg?

[@blenk9607]

If you were to show reruns of this era of NASCAR vs today's nascar, this era would get better ratings!

[@mhlaw229]

Irvan was out of control in the early 90s. This was typical. He settled down when he took over the 28 car after Davey Allison was killed in the helecopter crash

[@kiboyr_archive]

DAMN MARK NEARLEY BLEW OVER!

[@PYLrulz1984]

Irvan doing what he does best... wreck cars.

[@DerpRiot]

When NASCAR was entertaining...

[@Thomas-ib9iu]

+Derp Riot Now it's back to it's roots, they do need to fix the restrictor plate package though.

[@AlonsoRules]

bring back the roof wicker

[@DerpRiot]

+Thomas Brigman Respectfully don't agree. NASCAR has become a joke. All of the subjective rules have ruined the sport.

[@DCTib]

Derp Riot Naturally entertaining. NASCAR tried to force it in the early to mid 2000's and ruined it.

[@DCTib]

Morgan Spier NFL still sells out 16 football games a week. People lost interest around the same time the economy tanked. That just accelerated the lack of attendance.

[@jimijakjones99]

I had an idea Ernie Irvan was in the middle of the mess Lol. Ernie was by far my favorite all time Nascar driver . I knew watching every Sunday that Irvan was gonna tape a brick to his foot . Ernie had one goal .......win !!! Ernie Irvan either ran top 5 , wrecked , blew an engine ..........You never saw Irvan running middle of the pack .

[@Jelsick]

RIP Benny Parsons....

[@lilygrahamcakes4199]

ERNIE caused more wrecks than anyone, anywhere, anytime...

[@12valverollin_81]

If you not first your last

[@jwim3969]

Wow what a surprise Irvan caused a crash 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@jamesfaulkner4022]

Swervin Ernie Irvan

[@mdhsyracuse]

I love the "Track Facts" music lol. ESPN was the best back in the day.

[@grungyflannel]

track facts was the sheez, i had forgotten about it until this clip, daggum swervin irvan, the david ragan of his era

[@aaronkristofer18]

Which car was Petty in, because I know he was hospitalized from this one.

[@dssbf2874]

aaronkristofer18 #42

[@austinsteed1581]

Ernie Irvan. The original Ross Chastain

[@alanknizek3877]

This was real racing before Nascar became a joke. It was great then

[@Bartbort1]

god love hows theres no catch fence on the turns,makes it look better

[@DDS029]

Yeah, tell that to Stan Smith, Jimmy Horton, etc, etc.

[@YusakuJon3]

@XRage21 As battalionfan888 said, he took a hit at the worst possible spot. From what I recall, that was a pretty dangerous injury (compound fracture of the left femur). He lucked out there.

[@DDS029]

Happened to my wife in '75. Right leg though. Operation to inset rod. Let it heal. Operation to remove rod. Still gets bad pains.

[@KevinMcAdams26]

WOW look at all that water on the infield. I thought one of those cars were gonna tumble.

[@pepsibottleq]

Gotta love swervin irvan, lol What a wreck, puts the modern "Big One" to shame

[@Zoomer30]

Back when every Big One replay had the words "Ernie Ervin".

[@brimtime8117]

That sound!!! Wow

[@wawwwaaa]

Its because drivers are being too cautious(notice all of the big wrecks eg. daytona are all near the end) and the repaving of Talledaga and the restrictor plate change also adds to that

[@stephenbernsen169]

Back when they let them go faster, and let them race.

[@lh9140]

Sure miss those days

[@joshuasweeney7864]

10 years?! Fuck I'm old I remember watching this when it was recent

[@user-ed1yx2fq7l]

You mean 30 years lol

[@joshuasweeney7864]

@@user-ed1yx2fq7l no, the uploaded video was 10 years old at the time. I know the race was 30 years ago

[@nascarboi2309]

Dang Mark Martin Almost Flipped!

[@johnnystek6900]

great stuff, unlike the garbage they produce on plate tracks these days

[@hockeyboy1231]

Personally, I like the one they play before the races.