Shell-shocked. That was the reaction at Daytona International Speedway when a horrific last-lap wreck took Austin Dillon airborne. ‘The World Center of Racing’ has seen scary wrecks before, including the one where Dale Earnhardt tragically lost his life in 2001. The No. 3 Chevy, battered beyond recognition, sent echoes of that incident, and despite a decade having passed since, it’s a crash that remains etched in the memories of everyone who witnessed it.
It was Rick Allen’s first broadcast with NBC at the time, and the play-by-play announcer remembers Dillon’s wreck like it was just yesterday. In a candid conversation with Dale Earnhardt Jr., the TV personality took a trip down memory lane to recount that harrowing experience once again.
Dillon’s crash shook the NASCAR community
It probably felt even worse than it looked. The checkered flag was in sight at Daytona International Speedway when Austin Dillon’s car went airborne. The No. 3 Chevy flew over two lanes of cars, slammed into the catch fence, and landed on the racetrack upside down. Just when Dillon thought the worst was over, Brad Keselowski slammed into him, and audible gasps were heard throughout the track. It looked so scary that crew members from other teams also sprinted across the pit road, desperate to reach the driver.
Rick Allen was equally terrified. Recalling the incident on the Dale Jr. Download podcast, he said, “We thought he was dead.” The TV personality was prepared for the worst, and he went on to say, “In my mind, I knew that I was getting ready to say that there was a serious injury and potentially a fatality. The somberness of that, you know, broadcast, happened immediately. We think he’s passed away, and all of a sudden, he gets out of the car and he waves. And you’re like, ‘Wow, okay.’ That was a crazy race.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr., who crossed the finish line first and won the 2015 Coke Zero Sugar 400, couldn’t care less about the outcome. Yelling on the team radio after crossing the finish line, he said, “Oh, my God, that looked awful.” Junior’s crew chief, Greg Ives, also radioed members of his team and issued a warning. “Whoever is in that window, if he’s O.K., do not touch him,” Ives said. “Tell him to stay in there.”
Ultimately, when it became clear that Austin Dillon was okay, relief spread across the track. A thunderous roar could be heard from the crowd, even though the damage was significant. Joie Chitwood, the Daytona president, said 13 fans were being treated in the grandstands for injuries, while eight declined treatment. Four were examined while one was rushed to the hospital, but was in a stable condition.
It was NBC’s first broadcast of a NASCAR race since 2006, and drivers stopped by the studio to help the network fill airtime. Relieved that Dillon was safe, Rick Allen recalled, “It ended up where we were hanging out with the execs, eating pizza afterwards in the hotel, and they’re like, ‘Okay, that was a pretty good start.’” While ‘good’ may be a subjective term in this instance, it was surely an eventful start for the broadcaster and Rick Allen.
Allen recalls his heartbreaking exit from NBC
Rick Allen has been there and done that. From 2003 to mid 2014, the TV personality worked with FOX, covering the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Racing Series. He was appointed by NBC as lead race announcer as the network was preparing to broadcast the final 20 Sprint Cup Series races and 19 Nationwide Series races each season, starting from 2015.
However, after almost a decade-long run with the broadcaster, NBC Sports announced in August 2024 that Leigh Diffey, who had previously covered IndyCar and other motorsports disciplines with the network, would be taking over as play-by-play commentator for the NASCAR Cup Series, replacing Rick Allen.
Recalling his exit from NBC, Allen told Dale Jr., “At the time, they said they didn’t know exactly how many races but they were gonna have Diffey do the last however many races. And I didn’t understand that. I guess I didn’t know why that would be the way you would transition somebody in and me out. And it was scary. And it was weird. I was crushed when that news hit me.”
Despite losing his job to Diffey, Allen continued working with NBC Sports as the lead play-by-play commentator for the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He was in charge of that role until September 2024, after which The CW Network took over. Describing his exit as a “crushing blow”, the 55-year-old was forced to come to terms with his heartbreaking departure in the blink of an eye.
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