From the drivers to the fans, everyone knew “the big one” was coming. Huge wrecks are inevitable at Talladega Superspeedway – here’s why – so as the Alabama 500 was winding down Sunday, people knew something bad was going to happen.
With just 17 of the 188 laps remaining, chaos broke out. NASCAR Cup Series playoffs leader Martin Truex Jr. made contact with David Ragan, setting off a chain-reaction wreck that involved 16 different drivers.
While fans were thrilled to see Dale Earnhardt Jr. escape the wreck – despite sliding sideways across the infield grass – playoff drivers taken out included Truex, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Overheard on the radio scanner audio, multiple drivers had the same reaction when it was all over: “I’m alive.”
Kyle Busch: I’m not done wrecking yet. Ohh! I’m alive.
Jimmie Johnson: That (expletive) hurt! I was blindsided right to the heart.
Kurt Busch: I’m alive. Car’s destroyed. We were doing everything right. Everything was right.
Another race highlight was Clint Bowyer, who unfortunately was caught up in an earlier but smaller wreck. Afterward, he lashed out at his crew for being in the back of the field in an expletive-filled rant.
Bowyer: How in the (expletive) did we end up in the (expletive) back?! (Expletive)! (Expletive) stupid!
Crew chief Mike Bugarewicz: We tore up a lot of other (expletive) throughout the year too, bud.
Bowyer: Oh (expletive). I ain’t taking no (expletive).
Bugarewicz: Well these guys don’t want to hear it either. Let’s work on this.
Bowyer: Haven’t said a (expletive) word all year. I ain’t taking no (expletive) either.
Brad Keselowski was among the 14 drivers who didn’t destroy their cars and won his first playoff race of the year, locking him into the next round.
