How Neil Bonnett Saved A Life 24 Hours Before His Death

B The 1994 Daytona Speedweeks have been well documented and many NASCAR fans know the story of this dreadful weekend. On the first day of practice, the legendary Neil Bonnett lost his life in a crash. Just three short days later, 31 year old Rodney Orr who was attempting his first Winston Cup race had the same fate in another practice session. Despite being remembered as one of the darkest weekends in the NASCAR’s history, the NASCAR Community very nearly lost the life of another young racer. Ironically, It was because of Neil Bonnett that Andy Farr was able to walk away from one of the most vicious crashes ever at Daytona.
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[@bryannations9121]

Neil was my dad's driver in the early 70's. I rode down to Daytona with Neil, Susan, and David for one of the races. Grew up with the Bonnetts and Allisons and even worked for Bobby during the summer. I have a photo of Neil upside down in the Tri-Oval at Talladega that I took right before he hit the fence in front of me. I took the photo down to Kritsen Bonnetts souvenir shop in Concord, AL about 2 weeks before Neil died and had him autograph the photo. We lost a lot of our racing family out of Hueytown. Neil was a great guy.

[@tripleffarms2872]

Cool Earnhardt was always my driver after he died I've never watched another race

[@housesports000]

​@@tripleffarms2872 not even to see his son Junior?

[@kevingallagher6804]

He became a best friend to Dale Earnhardt…

[@rickharvell8185]

I loved Neil. I met him when I was 16 years old I still have his autograph to this day Hard to believe it's almost 30 years since we lost him. It still hurts me to this day Rest in peace my friend Neil bonnett

[@bufford5483]

Niel Bonnett was one of the good ones. On and off the track.

[@bryonkidder6199]

Best driver in the TV booth of all time...imo

[@c.d.8975]

How do you know how good he was off the track?

[@JasonNation72]

Seeing Earnhardt in the crowd as Wallace was preaching about the safety of the sport is very eerie since, of course, we would lose him seven years after that moment.

[@benrumble1379]

"Andy Farr impacts the wall" understatement of the century from the PA announcer

[@frevazz3364]

More like he took down the wall 😮 Wow what a hit. Extremely lucky.

[@tonyyost331]

Would you rather him freak the fuck out? 😂

[@BSNFabricating]

You mentioned that Neil Bonnett came back to race in the '88 Daytona 500 after his terrible wreck at Charlotte in '87... He ended up finishing fourth at Daytona, then won the next two races at Richmond and Rockingham, as well as a race at the Thunderdome in Australia. But later that year he missed two races in July due to gallbladder surgery, which kept him from finishing in the top ten in points (Morgan Shepherd drove his car at Pocono and Talladega, and won the pole at Pocono). I think the last real injury-free season he had was probably 1985.

[@ervinthompson6598]

He also qualified 20th at Talladega in 1993 and probably wasn't pushing it , to preserve the car( a loaner one race deal from Earnhardt and renumbered 31)after being sidelined for 3(!!) years !!He wound up being put in the catch fence upside down, his in car camera showed him flying over Ted Musgrave in the 16..... crawled out,was checked , dressed and finished the race as a broadcaster..... Never a quitter !!

[@vapinbachelor289]

Hey Bud, I was personally at the 87 Charlotte race, and it sounded and felt like a bomb exploded when Neil pounded the wall!

[@paulelliott682]

I've seen pics of the 31 car. It was sponsored by Mom & Pops brand restaurant. Dale Jr. also had them as a sponsor in ? series.

[@davidarmstrong7628]

Testosterone will kill many men. How many men will die. Darwinism

[@danieltroxell8558]

​@@paulelliott682they sponsored Jrs late model at hickory

[@BrianIsTheGOAT594]

R.I.P. Neil Bonnett 1946 - 1994

[@P42_foamer]

1994 speedweeks reminded me of 3 similar events that would happened a few months later. the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix was in the practice session at the time of the first crash, that crash involved F1 Driver Rubens Barrichelo, when Rubens was exiting a corner he flew over the Kerb and would fly into the tyre barrier at 140 MPH, he would suffer a sprained wrist, a broken nose and his tongue blocked his airway he would survive. Then came Saturday qualifying when during the final qualifying session Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger would be killed when his car would hit the concrete wall at the villeneuve curve after his car’s front wing failed and went underneath the car causing him to lose control and crash almost head on, he would fatality suffer a basal skull fracture. Then a day later during the race The 3 time F1 Champion Ayrton Senna was leading on lap 7, then as he was approaching the tamburello corner, the car’s steering column broke causing senna to hit the unprotected wall at 133 MPH the impact caused his left front tire and a piece of suspension to fly into the cockpit, he would suffer a basal skull fracture, these 2 tragedies made it the darkest weekend in the history of Formula 1

[@GregBrownsWorldORacing]

I remember a wreck at the old Richmond Fairgrounds half mile when Bonnett crashed, going through the armco barrier & being stopped by the wooden post. It was also quite painful for him. He said of the ambulance crew something like "If they're not going to come help the drivers quickly after a crash - They should have to buy a ticket to watch the race" Keep up the great content JJ. Really enjoying your channel.

[@cadillacjohn1994]

It’s a sad coincidence that Neil’s best friend, Dale Earnhardt, would also die of the same injuries, in the same turn, at the same track, in the same month, seven years later. It’s also sad that it takes big injuries or worse things than that to make us realize that bigger safety innovations happen, but at least with their sacrifices, we were able to get better safety equipment embedded into motorsports with new safety belts, the Earnhardt bar, a new driver’s cockpit design, and the HANS device being mandatory. It’s comforting to know that they were still able to make racing safer, and still enjoyable, even if it did cost them quite a bit to do it. Rest in peace, Neil Bonnett, Rodney Orr, Dale Earnhardt, and all others who have lost their lives in a racecar, and thank you for everything!

[@EclecticBuddha]

But Dale died blocking aggressively, not racing. We're lucky he didn't take anyone else with him pulling a stupid stunt like that.

[@cadillacjohn1994]

@@EclecticBuddha Dale died honorably, racing to protect his team, and most importantly, his son. I don’t care if it was aggressive blocking or not. As a father, and a team owner, he was simply doing the right thing by protecting the lives of his son and friend, and giving them their opportunity to achieve glory like he promised them, as well as simply racing his friends to the finish line the way he wanted to. It doesn’t matter if what he was doing was smart or stupid. He was doing what he had to do for the people who were the most important to him. Plain and simple.

[@amyparker9816]

@@EclecticBuddha Today I learned that blocking isn't a part of racing 🤔

[@tiggy79]

​@@EclecticBuddhasmh

[@paulelliott682]

1964 World 600 " Fireball " Roberts = Mandatory fuel cells

[@danielfoster3642]

I didn't know that Neil Bonnett did that. Makes me appreciate him even more. RIP Neil Bonnett

[@johnvandeventer8668]

This is an amazing story. I really enjoyed the story. Neil’s death would’ve been prevented by the HANS device. Unfortunately, the HANS device would not have saved Rodney Orr. I honestly think that the Earnhardt bar and the Newman bar if they existed might’ve saved him I don’t know… Both were just horrible deals

[@gregorygolden1296]

I'm not sure but I think Rodney was struck by one of the caution lights up by the wall while he was wrecking. 93 and 94 were some hard years on all of us. That wreck the 77 had was about as brutal as you can get without dying.

[@jeremyfisher8782]

I believe you are right. The caution light tore the roof off of Rodney's car if I remember correctly. Its really cool to hear some different things about Rodney ...opposed to the normal details of his crash. Rodney was a wheel man. A great motorcycle racer as well. If I remember correctly ...he had some really fast times in preseason testing. He is definitely a "could have been great" type of driver. I would love to learn more about him. The story of how his hometown supported him speaks to what a great racer and person that he was. Bless him and his family, friends and fans.

[@bryonkidder6199]

Hoosier Tires took Neil's life...btw

[@turbotim13]

Ya those tires had problems that year.

[@jeremyfisher8782]

@@turbotim13 Uh ...its a proven fact that the tires had nothing to do with Neil's or Rodney's death. Both cars wrecked due to a 5 dollar shock mount part. Again ...proven FACT

[@ChrisS-oo6fl]

The 5 point harness doesn’t include the sternum strap/ sternum protector. 5 points are just a traditional harness two lap belts two shoulder straps and a crotch/sub strap = 5 points. The sternum straps are a complete separate upper buckle.

[@patmanbnl]

The way the car came apart looked like a violent Indycar crash in the way the car disintegrated. Likely helped save his life by absorbing the energy of the crash.

[@KellieLeigh48]

Never realized the connection. Neat video. RIP Neil and Rodney 🙏🏻

[@DC322]

After that Darlington crash which kept Bonnett out of the car for three years. He did TV with CBS/TNN and host Winners series until he went back to racing at Talledega. Crashed and flipped at the tri oval during the race but went back up to the booth to do TV the rest of the day.

[@topmech71]

I remember that terrible crash…then he went up and joined the guys for the broadcast, didn’t even phase him. Buddy said it right, he was a hard charger almost to the point he was out of control sometimes.

[@davidmuncy7862]

It's crazy that from the reports, both Rodney Or and Neils were very similar to Farrs crash

[@denniswilson9317]

I remember attending the race in the eighties at Charlotte where Bonnet got a fairly serious injury. When he retired and hosted the tv show called "Winning" on TNN I just assumed he was done with driving. I was genuinely surprised when he allowed himself to be lured back. I went to the '94 speedweeks, but because of my work schedule I didn't arrive until the day after Orr was killed. I was very saddened by the deaths of Orr and especially Bonnet. I was a fan of Neil's for many years.

[@nielgregory108]

What is hardly ever mentioned is that these older drivers would drive with loose belts!!! That is why alot of them got hut so much in the sternum and that is why Dale E died. The loose belts allowed him to move forward striking his head on the wheel and destroying both. The HANS works yes, but they all now make sure they are tight as hell.

[@turbotim13]

Ya, I heard Dale would loosen the belts a lap or two before the checkered. Stupid move he did, probably did that 300 times before without a problem. It only took that one time and Lost his life. He was such a legend.

[@ethanweeter2732]

The tight belts may have still killed Dale. He still had the skull fracture from the sudden stop or deceleration, on top of the chin injury that broke his neck. The fatal injury had occurred before his chin struck the steering wheel or dashboard.

[@tangsan3127]

@@ethanweeter2732it's a bit ironic because he could have been survived if he wear the HANS device that he hated

[@chasefollett4107]

What really sucks is that there isnt much footage for Bonnet’s wreck, just mostly eye witness testimony on why or what may have caused him to loose control. Really tragic era in NASCAR.

[@NASCARIn-CarRadio]

I can't confirm this to be true, but I have heard NASCAR locked up the footage and photos of both Neil Bonnett's and Rodney Orr's crashes. Officials at the track went as far as confiscating cameras from fans in attendance on the days of the accidents.

[@KellieLeigh48]

There's several photos on the Crash Photos Database

[@deenam1756]

Neill was my favorite driver. His mother still worked in the deli at Winn Dixie in Birmingham during Neil's success. Could you do a tribute to Butch Lindley?

[@angus4202]

neil bonnet was a great man my mother was really close to him along with terry labonte i have letters written to her from neil bonnet and terry labonte thanking her for coming to one of junior johnsons house parties. yes my mother was so close to neil that he invited her to come to multiple house parties at JJ's house the late 70s through early 90s were totally different eras from now when she heard the news that bonnet had died she cried like she lost a brother

[@All-ScaleSlotCars]

I've always been a huge fan of Neil Bonnett, and I thank you for this very informative video.

[@garyfeltman4482]

I remember that day and watched as they carried his casket to the hearst for the procession to the cemetery. RIP Neil Bonnett

[@d.a.thorndike8772]

The wreck at 1:09 was going to surely be a fatality if not for the gust of wind that lifted the car and saved his life. It caused the car to impact that concrete wall on the bottom instead of the passenger side at the very last moment

[@SuperNASCARrocks]

Neil Bonnet was a hero

[@kelsimorrison1222]

Rip Neil bonnet and roodney orr

[@twrecks4598]

Andy Farr was driving my uncles ARCA car when this happened. What remained was put in some racing museum somewhere. Once that left front hits the apron if are steering right to correct loose, u get shot right to the wall. Had it happened to me on a short track.

[@tanderson6442]

Hell of a good roll cage in that thing.

[@chrisbrunet8317]

Saw Mr. Newby at Toledo not to long ago

[@thomasbilling1802]

A friend of mine built the chassis Andy was driving that day. He sold it to the car owner Charlie Newby. He was beside himself about how much the car came apart but that is what dissipated the energy of the crash. To me, the car did its job, and Andy survived. @@tanderson6442

[@662wc5]

Having done 175 mph laps at Daytona back in the day, I remember that unsettling feeling of balancing on the head of a pin while going around there at speed, which in those cars is like trying to make a hippo do ballet. Seeing a video of the ugly results of a car getting loose in the transition into or out of the banking reminds me of that momentary loose, light, unsettling feeling you get in the seat of your pants in those areas of the track, especially going into turns one and three. It makes you wonder "Is this thing about to step out from under me?", but of course you don't let off the throttle. Losing the backend or a tire wouldn't be good anywhere on that track, but there are some places that "This wouldn't be a good place for that to happen" crossed my mind more than others, such as the transitions or looking down at the abrupt bottom of the banking. You get a wheel down there at speed and you're likely going for a ride. It can get ugly in a hurry at the Big D. As someone said, never lose your fear or or respect for that track.

[@plasticrap4577]

This is why there should never be another tire war again in NASCAR, Damn Hoosier tires!☠️ RIP Neil!❤

[@dangifford1147]

Great video! A story never told because of all of the overshadowing tragedy that speedweeks. Great job man!

[@brian_keith]

I saw Rodney Orr's autopsy pictures. he was torn to pieces when he was thrown into the catch fence after the initial impact. How they were able to tell exactly what killed him is beyond me.

[@benwalter4842]

I cannot find those photos. Was Rodney Orr’s crash similar to Russell Phillips’s crash?

[@DIARRHEA-PANIC]

NASCAR investigated NASCAR and found that NASCAR was not liable. 😮

[@mattskustomkreations]

Thanks for putting this story together. 10:12. A couple corrections for the comment for future consideration : “adamant” was misspelled and “written” should replace “wrote”. Keep up the good work!

[@TomLehockySVK]

Hello, could you consider covering the life and tragic passing of Charlie Jarzombek ? I have read comments on the video of his fatal incident that he was a very popular driver in the Modified series.

[@turbotim13]

Yes he was a good driver. I was there when he was killed. I've always loved the white#5 when it was driven by Greg Sacks, then charging Charlie. Very good driver.

[@davidschaadt3460]

I think his throttle stuck wide open at Martinsville.

[@jerryfrederick6610]

Neil was the man!

[@mykemech]

5:44 I live near the Charlotte Motor Speedway and I really miss that sound.

[@RobertMortorff-rl8ng]

The smell too ever since they changed the gas that distinctly wonderful cherry odor from high octane leaded fuel and I used it in my ATV for a while cuz I missed it now it smells like a bunch of old beater cars running around the track

[@wyattholo9956]

Nfjj thank you for this story I was watching the Daytona 500 and when I heard I was in shock I thought we had put 93 behind but I knew it would happen. Thank you nfjj. Next suggestion: Larry smiths fatal crash at talladega.

[@superblindeye1]

Davey Allison's actual first top 10 was his first race at Talladega in 1985 driving the number one Lancaster chewing tobacco car. Also, it was determined that Neil had a stuck throttle in the car.

[@kozippio7854]

Neil did NOT have a stuck throttle. That makes no damn sense anyways. Throttle is to the floorboard all the way around Daytona anyways They dont lift there.

[@mdavis4930]

Makes plenty sense if you start to lose it and have to lift

[@chrisjordan6693]

I miss Neil

[@bobwilson758]

Amen brother ! Me too .

[@anncase8673]

Really when you look at Andy Farr's wreck its a miracle he didn't even get the wind knocked out of him

[@gloriaannopperman2734]

The Oppermans from Texas will always love and miss you Dale Earnhardt Sr, your fans forever. We liked Neil as well so now they are racing in Heaven with God and enjoying the afterlife. We loved Dale sand Neil both but our fave will always be Dale Earnhardt Sr. Rest in peace Dale Sr and Neil Bonnett.

[@livvyb5237]

Ive just watched a doc on Davey Allison. I recognised neil bonnets name so watched this. Its so sad seeing that so many from that era who were all interlinked , are gone. Rip to Neil Bonnet, Dale Ernhardt and the Allison brothers to name a few

[@highoctanecards]

The 96 car mid video was Jerry Bowman from 1986

[@ryanwilson2016]

I actually got into racing in part due to Rodney Orr's death. My first racing go kart was owned by him and after his passing was sold to us. He was a super nice guy. We raced with him many times at Volusia county speedway. I think he would have had an amazing career.

[@jimbowers5402]

So sad about Neil. He was such a character. Still missed.

[@Slinger43]

Neil Bonnet was such a tragic loss to the Sport of Stock Car racing, he was a well above average driver & a even better human being. The most tragic part of his dying, for me anyway is NB should have never been in that race car in 94, doc's had told him not too, but race car driver's alway's believe it can't, or won't happen to them. Even though it happened nearly 30yrs ago now, my heart still goes out to his poor wife & children 🙏😞

[@rvegasguy_5216]

Man I remember seeing photos of the aftermath of Orrs crash. It's true about part of the fence hitting him. Pretty nasty stuff.

[@ajaj9686]

Unfortunately I remember seeing the autopsy photos by accident around 2003 when I was just 12 after typing his name into Google images. My intention was to see pictures of the car he ran, not those graphic images...

[@rvegasguy_5216]

@ajaj9686 yeah man it was horrible. Same with Neil Bonnets. It's something you can't forget. I believe they were taken down with a lawsuit kinda like Dale Dr wife had

[@jacobmassey3897]

This was 7 years before Dale's death and yet nothing was done in all that time so that his loss could've been easily prevented. Now there's an increased chance another driver could someday die again with these latest gen cars. This sport makes me sick.

[@tanderson6442]

Dale also argued against the HANS device and closed faced helmets. So he didn’t exactly help when it came to safety.

[@ervinthompson6598]

@@tanderson6442 He said the HANS looked like a horse collar, that his biggest fear in a race car was fire..... didn't trust the thing to not trap him. He had raced with the open helmets too long to accept change- A hard nosed, old school driver. I saw his point about fire vividly illustrated with Gary Batson's crash in Charlotte- car pinned roof first to the wall and no way of getting to him. lt was horrible to watch. Google it-

[@RobertMortorff-rl8ng]

There was also in between those crashes Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin and Nemacheck's son I'm sorry I don't know his name but if I'm not mistaken it's a Jr

[@ervinthompson6598]

@@RobertMortorff-rl8ng John.

[@alvingriggs6932]

Joe and John are brothers! not father and son.

[@chrisbrunet8317]

Very sad time. I know Andy Farr and just sat down with him and had a beer no to long ago. Rest In Paradise Neil and Rodney. Every set of belts I have put in my cars have the Sternum strap.

[@georgecopeman366]

Andy Farr won 2 championship here in Canada at Delaware Speedway,,then they headed south for arca I believe...Roseville Michigan at one time...drove a Monte so first championship Buick regal second championship...Andy is pure gentle man glad he stayed safe in that horrible crash

[@tammytorrey3747]

Always a winner!!! We will not forget you.

[@BUTTERY-APEX]

5:55 Bro never lifted.... like how. That's crazy it's like he was trying to power out which just seems like got him where he ended up.

[@HBSurferH2O]

I like how all the images of the drivers at the end are with cars sporting Goodyear Eagles. lol (Great tire)

[@ariansmovies]

A very good video and one of the few times on KZbin, I can actually tip the video creator for a a good video. Bummer that two lives were lost on that weekend and then a few months later, Aryton Senna was killed in Imola on May 1, 1994 just one day after another F1 driver lost his life at the same track. 1994 was a very dark year in Auto Racing, just like the span from late 1999 with Gonzalo Rodríguez and Greg Moore dying in CART, to Geoff Bodine almost dying at the truck race in Daytona in February of 2000, to the deaths at New Hampshire Speedway to the famous death in the 2001 Daytona 500. Auto Racing is always a dangerous sport and luckily, we don't see deaths in big time auto racing in today's times.

[@nascarfan4888JJ]

Thank you, appreciate the support!

[@zbeen-ah-lah]

It’s scary how similar this and the San Marino GP of the same year are…

[@mertonaloyisius3938]

My dad liked him because he drove for the Wood Bros. - LAST winner in a Mercury!

[@hanley72]

why do you post a pic of another driver at the end when talking about Andy.

[@mmartinfan4life523]

@hanley72 I made the same point, and I’ll guess you are a Canadian by the fact you use JR Hanley as your tag (he is 1 of the greatest ever to race a stock car)

[@hanley72]

@@mmartinfan4life523 yup a huge Hanley fan and collector up here in Ontario. We raced with Andy Farr here in Ontario in CASCAR. That was a scary crash back then.

[@mmartinfan4life523]

@@hanley72 I crew chief'd for Skeeter and for Mike Ling and crewed for Jim Maurice back then

[@hanley72]

@@mmartinfan4life523 awesome. I was on Whitlock's team in 1991 when we won the title.

[@georgecopeman366]

I know skeeter best under budget racing team, all driver...Mike Ling n big Brian from Brian's service center in dashboard bought my father Jack Copemans late model in 1987 really cheap so Mike could move up to race late models...

[@Jadonelijah2010]

NFJJ good vid but title says Bennett

[@nascarfan4888JJ]

Fixed thank you.

[@sabirahemphill-garcia1676]

I never knew about that. Thank you. I watch the accident as a kid when I first saw it on KZbin it’s crazy that people only know him for the accident and concrete wall 75 feet up. Did you have a race again after the accident or no?

[@joshuaweatherman9496]

Yes, Farr would fortunately race again.

[@RileyHerbst98]

Crash is sorta similar to Danny Bagwell in 1999 where his car would go spinning like this but unlike Neli Bonnett's Flip, His car barrell rolled till the tri-oval and no skin was left of the car, It's quite intresting that these 2 crashes were not talked about till last month

[@mmartinfan4life523]

At least get the right still photo of Andy Farr, you kept putting up the 96 car and that is not Andy. The team picture is correct showing the ragtag crew from Michigan behind the car and Andy kneeling at the tire. Sorry but I have known him since the mid 80's and still keep in touch with his brother Scott regularly

[@georgecopeman366]

Andy Raced Delaware Speedway up here in Canada and won 2 chamionships before this

[@miscellaneoussarnian5282]

Farr paralleled Barrichello Orr paralleled Ratzenberger Bonnett paralleled Senna Speedweeks 1994 was really NASCAR's Imola 1994 1994 wasn't a great year. period

[@MarlboroGMGoodwrench]

Good point pal

[@Dan-q4s5s]

Also it sucks that a great nascar driver has to lose his life inorder for nascar to make a change for safety.

[@dylanmohr6635]

Are you gonna do those other Tragedy videos that I spent you in the last video?

[@mrbigw100]

In an interview remembering Neal bonnet Richard Childress said it’s was those tyres that killed them

[@tomsocia9713]

My gramps best friend owned the 77 and built all the motors in house. I used to climb around that car like a jungle gym

[@giotrapani7852]

You know what’s bizzare I’ve known Andy’s two sons since elementary.

[@BadgerFan1989]

Why, when talking about Andy Farr are you showing a picture of Jerry Bowman?

[@CNSTAdventures]

Sounds like he was coming out of turn number 4 with nitrous on .. those RPMs were steady winding up !

[@northcarolinabluesman7417]

I wonder if Ernie Ervin was on Hoosiers when he crashed at Michigan that year?

[@Dan-q4s5s]

Just like Dale Earnhardt's death saved the lives of many drivers by mandatory Hans device and full faced helmet's.

[@MrJoe1129uscg]

Orr's skull was also crushed. He had zero chance of survival.

[@Meatwhack101]

Look at all the hoosier issues at the knoxville nationals last week, multuple tire failures

[@dillonpierce7869]

I'd be willing to bet Hoosier did testing behind closed doors to make sure the tires weren't at fault for those crashes...... And as bad as the cars were afterwards very hard to tell if anything broke or it was simply loss of control on the driver. Either way its a crap deal but thankful farr wasn't killed in his.

[@michaelmadrigale7716]

I was there that day with my kids when Neil died,RIP

[@DaleKnighten-rd2ck]

Anyone else notice Dale And Andy Had issues in turn four on the apron and they both tried to correct and slammed the wall? Kinda Spooky

[@mrt601]

To bad the full containment seats didn't come a little earlier

[@troygroomes104]

Andy Farr's crash was actually caused by a real bad gust of wind according to nascar's records

[@weshilton6862]

I met Neil Bonnett at Bristol in 1982 just before I entered military service in the Air Force. He told me to do as good as I could and thanked me. After I left service, I was again at Bristol and heard someone say, “hey, last time I saw you, you were going into basic training.” It was Neil Bonnett and I told him I became a sergeant in the Strategic Air Command. In front of all the other drivers, he gave me a big hug. Now I am old, and I think of him and his smile. I also met Bobby Allison and he signed my Buick Grand National later at Kingsport Speedway. I miss them all and the old days.

[@stephenbritton9297]

Thats like Newman's "Newman bar" saving him at daytona.

[@turbotim13]

No it's called the Earnhardt bar

[@1776_Garage]

It was the Hoosier tires.

[@gregvandy34]

Bonnett was a great driver and an even better guy. Tough as nails too. Tire failure caused Bonnett to lose control. Nothing he could do, just along for the ride at that point. The cars were very dangerous and the last thing we needed was a tire war, but that's exactly what we got. I believe this put an end to that, Hoosier withdrew.

[@ervinthompson6598]

It wasn't tire failure, but a broken shock mount- at which point Neil hit the apron, instinctively tried to drive into the skid as he had at Talladega the year before (where he wound up in the catch fence, and they red flagged the race for over 90 minutes patching and welding it back together)- the car got away from him and went straight up the banking. No safer barrier... just solid concrete, right front hit-"one o' clock" - at 170 mph, and with Neil's history of head injuries and amnesia.... he was reportedly alive, but barely, when they managed to get him out, but it didn't last.

[@JohnKlue-h9p]

You are talking about an accident from 1994. But at 8.41 of the film you show a clean up crew in front of soft walls. To my knowledge, soft wall were not developed until after 2001.

[@briantaylor9285]

RIP 🙏

[@paulelliott682]

Unfortunately the HANS device wasn't mandatory until Neil's best friend Dale Sr. Died 7 years later

[@veggieoilerfan2940]

Contrary to popular belief, the HANS device wasn’t mandated immediately after Dale Earnhardt’s death. It was mandated after Blaise Alexander died during the October 4, 2001 ARCA race at Charlotte.

[@Potpie88]

beautiful video

[@apexkilla]

Wow you either have a terrible gauge of distance or you purposely exaggerate it for dramatic effect (Bonnett sliding on driver’s door for “about 100 feet” [more like 12 feet] about “75 feet of catch fencing torn down” [more like 12 feet])

[@ThatoneNASCARnerd]

And after that wreck Andy afar became a CASCAR Super Series Driver

[@butchknouse8316]

One of his injuries was a deer under green flag at Pocono.

[@frevazz3364]

Bonnett should have just retired after all those wrecks but he couldn't stay away.

[@BillyRamirez]

We say Neil, you say Nill. Potato, potahto.

[@oneslave3318]

Neil hit the first A in the word Daytona. Dale hit the second A.

[@farmcentralohio]

Kind of ironic that Rusty was up there preaching safety. And now he and his "driving a nascar experience" are responsible for the death of a young man.

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

Some of these NASCAR crashes actually make me feel ill watching. How so many have literally walked away from 99% of them astounds me.

[@drivin379]

5 pt harness means.... Shoulder Shoulder Lap Lap Nut strap 6 pt is one chest strap i think

[@gooshy8312]

Orr died from non-survivable blunt force trauma to his head. When he got into the fence, he hit a caution light stanchion, mostly at the roof-door junction, caving in the roof substantially. There were photos of his helmet and the car demonstrating this. I don't recommend searching for these. 94 sucked.

[@outdoormatt5188]

💥💪💯

[@redneck4541]

His name was Neil...not nill

[@redneck4541]

And Dale not dell....learn to speak English

[@Thierrynascarandarca]

Omg

[@deanswart8477]

Earnhardt bar