Whenever a NASCAR fan experiences racers crashing, it is like living a nightmare. Sometimes it is a racer’s way of giving their fellow competitor a piece of their mind like Chase Elliott deliberately crashing into Denny Hamlin at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2023. But, in others, the events on track could lead to disasters. One such unfateful event occurred during NASCAR’s first visit to COTA in 2021, where rain brewed a recipe for disaster.
EchoPark Texas Grand Prix, the 3.4-mile beast in the rolling hills of Texas Hill Country presents a challenge of dramatic elevation changes, sharp turns, and the occasional downpours that turn the track into a high-speed slip-n-slide. In May 2021, Martin Truex Jr. was driving ahead when racer Cole Custer lost control of his 700-horsepower stock car, ramming into the former. It led to a series of events that remain unforgettable to NASCAR fans.
Rain Soaked COTA: A Blind Spot and a Fiery Outcome
It was lap 25 of the race and it had already been nerve-wracking. The rain, a constant companion that day, had made visibility a thing of the past. Joey Logano had won the stage one in pouring rain. In the second stage, Martin Truex Jr. driving the #19 Toyota Camry ran into the rear of the #34 Ford Mustang of Michael McDowell. This damaged his car a bit and the racer slowed down to regain control of his vehicle.
Behind Truex Jr., an unsuspecting Cole Custer in Stewart-Haas Racing’s #41 Ford Mustang had lost his visibility due to the rain. The result: a harsh bump that lifted Truex briefly into the air and spun him to a terrifying near-flip. Custer’s car was damaged due to the impact. He lost steering control and bumped into the inside wall. In mere seconds, when the car made it back to the track after impact, it burst into flames. Luckily, a safe Cole Custer emerged from the bright orange inferno. Thankfully, both drivers emerged uninjured, but that incident has left a lasting impression on everyone.
Recollecting the horror he experienced on track, Martin Truex Jr. said, “I don’t know, I couldn’t see anything. Going down the backstretch just trying to stay on the road and next thing I know, I saw a taillight and it was on my hood in a split second. You can’t see…and the next thing I knew, I got hit so hard that I was 10 feet in the air. I don’t know. Just wild. Hopefully, everybody else is okay, that’s the most important thing. Just a mess, you can’t see anything.” With a true sportsmanly attitude, Truex knew the situations were harsh enough to ease out making costly mistakes. But, what about the man up in flames?
A huge and frightening hit for Cole Custer and Martin Truex Jr. at Circuit of The Americas. pic.twitter.com/dGmCoXQPx6
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 23, 2021
When asked about the incident, Custer agreed with Truex Jr., “I’m all good. It didn’t hurt as much as I thought it was gonna be, but it’s just that you can’t see anything. It’s pretty bad. I mean, you can’t see a foot in front of your car. I was just rolling down the backstretch. You can’t see anything.” With such low visibility, it almost becomes impossible to make judgments or even see situations clearly to access them. Even if Custer had seen Truex Jr. and tried to brake, there was a fair possibility of a more severe accident, as the slippery track could have caused bigger wrecks from drivers behind him.
The race was eventually called short due to the worsening weather. Chase Elliott, who navigated the chaos around him with a mixture of both skill and luck was declared the winner: an anti-climatic end to a drama-filled race. The crash and the near-zero visibility that caused it raised some serious questions. Was it a freak accident or a consequence of the downpour? Well, at least all ended well. It’s much better to feel ‘I have lost my chance to win’ than feeling ‘I am about to lose my life’!
From ‘seconds to victory’ to ‘inches from death’: The 2020 Daytona crash
People who lived the horrors of the Daytona 500 in 2020 know what this adrenaline-filled sport could do to a racer! Driver Ryan Newman nearly lost his life that day. He was seconds away from bagging his first Daytona 500 win, but fate had other plans in place for him. In the final lap, Ryan Blaney spun him over into the outer wall, causing him to flip onto the roof. Then an unflinching Corey Lajoie sent him flying up again. Shortly after a few flips and dragging, Newman burst into flames.
NASCAR officials swiftly hospitalized him. By the grace of the Almighty, Newman recovered in 2 days and was out of the hospital despite being in serious condition. But, Ryan Blaney was devastated. When you threaten the life of a fellow human being unknowingly, it takes a toll on you. He released a note on his X account on February 20, 2020, praying for a return of ‘Rocketman Ryan Newman’.
Ryan Blaney would have succumbed to his guilt if one of his favorites, Newman had to suffer anything fatal because of it. They had had a crash at Bristol previously, where Blaney thought Newman would be angry because he was the one to initiate it. But, a light-hearted Rocketman put his hand around Blaney’s shoulder and said, “It’s just racing,” and smiled. Blaney must have felt he had picked up the right favorites as a kid.
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