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.
Driver | Date | Event | Cause | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Marshall Teague | February 11, 1959 | Testing | Test runs preparing for speed-record attempt in reconfigured Indycar with canopy, high-speed aerodynamic lift caused crash. | [1][2] |
George Amick | April 4, 1959 | USAC 100-mile race | Crash at the exit of turn 2 and backstrech | [1][2] |
Dr. Bernie Taylor | June 14, 1959 | Powerboat race in infield lake | [2] | |
Harold Haberling | February 21, 1961 | Daytona 500 practice | [2] | |
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. | [1][2] |
Don MacTavish | 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. | [2] |
Wayne Harris Bartz | March 12, 1969 | Lightweight motorcycle race | [2] | |
Talmadge "Tab" Prince | February 19, 1970 | Twin 125s | [3][2] | |
Joe "Rusty" Bradley | March 14, 1971 | Daytona 200 | [2] | |
David Pearl | July 30, 1971 | Paul Whiteman Trophy Race | [2] | |
Friday Hassler | February 17, 1972 | Twin 125s | Killed in a crash while racing | [3][2] |
Ricky Knotts | February 14, 1980 | Twin 125s | [1][3][2] | |
Francis Affleck | February 7, 1985 | ARCA practice | [2] | |
Dr. Charles Ogle | December 26 1985 | Stock car testing | Died of injuries suffered December 15, 1985. | [2] |
Bruce Jacobi | February 4, 1987 | Twin 125s | Died of injuries suffered during crash in February 1983. | [2] |
Joe Young | February 13, 1987 | Charlotte-Daytona Dash Series race | [2] | |
James Kolman | December 27, 1987 | Kart testing | [2] | |
Randy Glenn | February 26, 1988 | Motorcycle practice | [2] | |
Don Williams | May 21, 1989 | Permatex 300 | Died on injuries suffered in February 1979. | [2] |
Dale Robertson | December 27, 1989 | Daytona Kart Week race | [2] | |
Julius Johnson | February 11, 1990 | ARCA 200 race | Died three days later on February 14, 1990 | [2][4] |
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 | [2] |
Neil Bonnett | February 11, 1994 | Daytona 500 qualifying practice | Crash in turn 4 | [1][5][2] |
Rodney Orr | February 14, 1994 | Daytona 500 second-day qualifying practice | Killed in a crash while practicing for the 1994 Daytona 500 | [5][2] |
Michael Himes | January 31, 1997 | IMSA Showroom Stock sportscar event) | ||
Roger Reiman | March 4, 1997 | Motorcycle practice for a racing legends event | ||
Dale Earnhardt | February 18, 2001 | Daytona 500 | Basilar skull fracture suffered from crash in turn 4 on the final lap of the Daytona 500 | [1][2][6] |
Dirk Piz | March 11, 2001 | Daytona 200 | [6] | |
Stuart Stratton | October 19, 2001 | Fall Cycle Scene motorcycle event | [6] | |
Michael Davis Jr. | December 30, 2001 | Daytona Kart Week race | [6] | |
Bryan Cassell | October 18, 2003 | Motorcycle practice, CCS/FUSA Fall Cycle Scene | Died in crash in turn 4. | [2] |
Roy H. Weaver III | February 8, 2004 | IPOWER Dash Series 150 | Track worker; struck and killed by driver Ray Paprota | [6] |
Robert Boswell | February 3, 2008 | Richard Petty Driving Experience | Heart attack when driving | [7] |