List of Daytona International Speedway fatalities
Encyclopedia
The Daytona International Speedway
has had numerous fatalities
since it opened in 1959.
Many notable drivers and participants, including one of NASCAR
's most notable drivers Dale Earnhardt
, have been fatally injured during auto, motorcycle, and powerboat racing events at the track.
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
has had numerous fatalities
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
since it opened in 1959.
Many notable drivers and participants, including one of NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
's most notable drivers Dale Earnhardt
Dale Earnhardt
Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR...
, have been fatally injured during auto, motorcycle, and powerboat racing events at the track.
| Driver | Date | Event | Cause | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall Teague Marshall Teague Marshall Teague was an American race car driver.He was nicknamed by NASCAR fans as the "King of the Beach" for his performances at the Daytona Beach Road Course.... |
February 11, 1959 | Testing | Test runs preparing for speed-record attempt in reconfigured Indycar American Championship Car Racing Since 1916 there has been a recognized United States national automobile racing National Championship for drivers of professional-level, single-seat open wheel race cars. The championship has been under the auspices of several different sanctioning bodies since 1909. Since 1911, the Indianapolis... with canopy, high-speed aerodynamic lift caused crash. |
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| George Amick George Amick George Amick was an American racecar driver, mainly competing in the American National Championship. He was killed in a crash in a USAC race at Daytona International Speedway... |
April 4, 1959 | USAC United States Automobile Club The United States Auto Club is one of the sanctioning bodies of auto racing in the United States. From 1956 to 1979, the USAC sanctioned the United States National Championship, and from 1956 to 1997 the organization sanctioned the Indianapolis 500... 100-mile race |
Crash at the exit of turn 2 and backstrech | |
| Dr. Bernie Taylor | June 14, 1959 | Powerboat Powerboat A powerboat is another name for a motorboat. Powerboat may also refer to:* Powerboating* F1 Powerboat World Championship* Offshore powerboat racing... race in infield lake |
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| Harold Haberling | February 21, 1961 | Daytona 500 Daytona 500 The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule.... practice |
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| Billy Wade | January 5, 1965 | NASCAR Grand National tire test | Died of internal injuries in a crash during a tire test session for Goodyear. The crash happened on the west turn caused by the burst of one of the tires he was testing. | |
| Don MacTavish Don MacTavish Donald Charles MacTavish started his racing career at the age of 15 racing in nearby Norwood, Massachusetts at the Norwood Arena. He quickly earned popularity for driving demolition derby cars, and appeared on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. He competed in more than 100 Sportsman Car Series races on... |
February 21, 1969 | Permatex 300 | Killed when his car hit the outside wall on the frontstretch, tearing the motor out of the car, then was hit by Stan Sommers. He was killed instantly. | |
| Wayne Harris Bartz | March 12, 1969 | Lightweight motorcycle Motorcycle A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most... race |
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| Talmadge "Tab" Prince | February 19, 1970 | Twin 125s Gatorade Duel The Gatorade Duel is NASCAR Sprint Cup Series preliminary event to the Daytona 500 held annually in February at Daytona International Speedway. It consists of two races, and serves as a qualifying race for the Daytona 500... |
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| Joe "Rusty" Bradley | March 14, 1971 | Daytona 200 Daytona 200 The Daytona 200 is a 68-lap, motorcycle race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.-History:The race evolved from a beach racing venue in 1937 to the Daytona International Speedway course in 1961.... |
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| David Pearl | July 30, 1971 | Paul Whiteman Trophy Race | ||
| Friday Hassler Friday Hassler Raymond "Friday" Hassler was a NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series driver.-Summary:He made his debut in 1960 but only drove a handful of races per year until 1967 when he drove 21 of the 49 races for Red Sharp and finished 32nd in points. He improved to 27th for Sharp the next year and... |
February 17, 1972 | Twin 125s Gatorade Duel The Gatorade Duel is NASCAR Sprint Cup Series preliminary event to the Daytona 500 held annually in February at Daytona International Speedway. It consists of two races, and serves as a qualifying race for the Daytona 500... |
Killed in a crash while racing | |
| Ricky Knotts Ricky Knotts Benny Richard Knotts , was an American ASA and NASCAR Winston Cup driver. The Paw Paw, Michigan driver began his career in 1974 and raced in various stock car series for 6 years before dying in a crash at Daytona in 1980.... |
February 14, 1980 | Twin 125s Gatorade Duel The Gatorade Duel is NASCAR Sprint Cup Series preliminary event to the Daytona 500 held annually in February at Daytona International Speedway. It consists of two races, and serves as a qualifying race for the Daytona 500... |
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| Francis Affleck | February 7, 1985 | ARCA Automobile Racing Club of America Automobile Racing Club of America is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States, founded in 1953 by John Marcum. The current president of ARCA is Ron Drager. The ARCA RE/MAX Series races stock cars similar to those seen in past years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and indeed most cars... practice |
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| Dr. Charles Ogle | December 26 1985 | Stock car testing | Died of injuries suffered December 15, 1985. | |
| Bruce Jacobi Bruce Jacobi Harold Bruce Jacobi is a former NASCAR driver, from Salem, Indiana, United States. In 1987, he died at age 51 because of head injuries from a crash during a race at the Daytona International Speedway in 1983... |
February 4, 1987 | Twin 125s Gatorade Duel The Gatorade Duel is NASCAR Sprint Cup Series preliminary event to the Daytona 500 held annually in February at Daytona International Speedway. It consists of two races, and serves as a qualifying race for the Daytona 500... |
Died of injuries suffered during crash in February 1983. | |
| Joe Young | February 13, 1987 | Charlotte-Daytona Dash Series race | ||
| James Kolman | December 27, 1987 | Kart Kart racing Kart racing or karting is a variant of open-wheel motorsport with small, open, four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits... testing |
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| Randy Glenn | February 26, 1988 | Motorcycle practice | ||
| Don Williams | May 21, 1989 | Permatex 300 | Died on injuries suffered in February 1979. | |
| Dale Robertson | December 27, 1989 | Daytona Kart Week race | ||
| Julius Johnson Slick Johnson Julius "Slick" Johnson was a NASCAR race car driver from Florence, South Carolina. He was killed due to a skull fracture suffered during a crash at the Automobile Racing Club of America race at Daytona International Speedway in 1990... |
February 11, 1990 | ARCA Automobile Racing Club of America Automobile Racing Club of America is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States, founded in 1953 by John Marcum. The current president of ARCA is Ron Drager. The ARCA RE/MAX Series races stock cars similar to those seen in past years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and indeed most cars... 200 race |
Died three days later on February 14, 1990 | |
| Joe Booher | February 12, 1993 | Florida 200 Dash Series race | ||
| James Adamo | March 7, 1993 | Daytona 200 | Crash caused by front brake failure, causing bike and rider to strike trackside barrier | |
| Neil Bonnett Neil Bonnett Lawrence Neil Bonnett was a NASCAR driver who compiled 18 victories and 20 poles over his 18-year career. The Alabama native currently ranks 35th in all-time NASCAR Cup victories. He appeared in the 1983 film Stroker Ace and the 1990 film Days of Thunder... |
February 11, 1994 | Daytona 500 qualifying practice | Crash in turn 4 | |
| Rodney Orr Rodney Orr Rodney Orr was a NASCAR driver. Originally from Robbinsville, North Carolina, he lived in Palm Coast, Florida at the time of his death. He was the 1993 Goody's Dash Series champion winning 6 races in 25 starts.... |
February 14, 1994 | Daytona 500 second-day qualifying practice | Killed in a crash while practicing for the 1994 Daytona 500 | |
| Michael Himes | January 31, 1997 | IMSA International Motor Sports Association The International Motor Sports Association is an American sports car auto racing sanctioning body based in Braselton, Georgia. It was started by John Bishop, a former employee of SCCA , and his wife Peggy in 1969 with help from Bill France, Sr... Showroom Stock sportscar event) |
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| Roger Reiman | March 4, 1997 | Motorcycle practice for a racing legends event | ||
| Dale Earnhardt Dale Earnhardt Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR... |
February 18, 2001 Death of Dale Earnhardt Dale Earnhardt was an American race car driver who gained fame driving stock cars for NASCAR and winning seven championships. He was involved in a car accident during the last lap of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 18, 2001. He was taken to Halifax Medical Center,... |
Daytona 500 Daytona 500 The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule.... |
Basilar skull fracture suffered from crash in turn 4 on the final lap of the Daytona 500 | |
| Dirk Piz | March 11, 2001 | Daytona 200 Daytona 200 The Daytona 200 is a 68-lap, motorcycle race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.-History:The race evolved from a beach racing venue in 1937 to the Daytona International Speedway course in 1961.... |
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| Stuart Stratton | October 19, 2001 | Fall Cycle Scene motorcycle event | ||
| Michael Davis Jr. | December 30, 2001 | Daytona Kart Week race | ||
| Bryan Cassell | October 18, 2003 | Motorcycle practice, CCS/FUSA Fall Cycle Scene | Died in crash in turn 4. | |
| Roy H. Weaver III | February 8, 2004 | IPOWER Dash Series 150 | Track worker; struck and killed by driver Ray Paprota | |
| Robert Boswell | February 3, 2008 | Richard Petty Richard Petty Richard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series... Driving Experience |
Heart attack when driving |
External links
- Deaths at Daytona at Fox SportsFox Sports (USA)Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
' website - Auto-racing Fatalities list at USA TodayUSA TodayUSA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
website - Daytona Deaths Chart at Sports IllustratedSports IllustratedSports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
's website