I was at this race. It sucked. The weather was lousy, the racing was boring and everyone was bummed about Ernie. Two months earlier the race at Michigan had great weather and the racing was awesome with Rusty coming from behind to win in the last twenty laps.
I think this was the first weekend that NASCAR coverage on ESPN used the then-new graphics package seen here (with the purple backgrounds and driver idenifications with the small black box with the last name only with the small white number in the red box, etc.)
What Robert Yates and Larry Mc.Renolds went through then with Davey and Ernie I wouldn't wish on anyone. I don't know if I would've wanted to stay in racing.
I did see his career ending crash. The last time he crashed nobody really seen it because it was busch practice, but I was in the infield @ michigan in between turn 3 and 4 and I remember I was sitting on my dads trailer and, I seen this car going by, and it just spun around and hit the wall pretty good with the back end of the car. The stands were empty and hardly any one was watching in the infield.
I was 5 when he had that crash and I remember explaining to my younger neighbors how he might die. I wrote him a card or letter every week while he was recovering and have been given many thanks by him for it. Such a great man.
Man I remember this like it was yesterday. I was only 8 or 9 years old at the time and was a huge Ernie Irvan fan. I'm confident he would've won the Winston Cup that year had the wreck not happened. But he was resilient and got back on the track. I still look up to him for that.
Ernie was never the same after that. He had one more big wreck and then that was it. Quite a shame. He was a great driver and capable of winning a title.
Yes Ernie Irvan did com back to racing. He came back to racing at the end of 1995 and he raced until 1999 and won 3 races. 2 in 1996 and 1 in 1997. But he had a big crash in 1999 and retired from racing after that. The fact is it is a miracle that he lived let alone to come back to racing and win.
I miss that introduction with ESPN Speedworld. Now we have Digger and the stupid song that Fox puts on.
Boeing737Sucks 1 year ago 2
I was at this race. It sucked. The weather was lousy, the racing was boring and everyone was bummed about Ernie. Two months earlier the race at Michigan had great weather and the racing was awesome with Rusty coming from behind to win in the last twenty laps.
ciccone39 1 year ago
Ernie really wasn't the same after this
tvspnd1228 1 year ago
Does anybody have a video of the crash?
AutoRockinRacing94 2 years ago
@AutoRockinRacing94 To the best of my knowledge, there is no video of either life threatening Michigan crash; they were both in practice.
utvolfan2012 1 year ago
John Andretti Drove For Petty Enterprises In 1994?????!!!!!
jamespic 2 years ago
Yes. He replaced Wally Dallenbach after the Watkins Glen race, and drove for PE the rest of the season.
ooeellama 2 years ago
Is that Bobby Hamilton at 0:33 ?
Nascarfan880 2 years ago
I think its John Andretti
nascarfan1444 2 years ago
Yes Its John Andretti
nascarfan1444 2 years ago
anybody know what turn he wrecked in? was it 1?
pazzarelli26 2 years ago
I think this was the first weekend that NASCAR coverage on ESPN used the then-new graphics package seen here (with the purple backgrounds and driver idenifications with the small black box with the last name only with the small white number in the red box, etc.)
Troggle84 3 years ago
actually this was the 2nd race for those, the 1st was the race at Watkins Glen the week before
battalionfan888 3 years ago
What Robert Yates and Larry Mc.Renolds went through then with Davey and Ernie I wouldn't wish on anyone. I don't know if I would've wanted to stay in racing.
jettadude736 3 years ago 11
Very sad about Ernie Irvan. Very unfortunate how one accident can change your career.
Crisgo3d 3 years ago 6
I did see his career ending crash. The last time he crashed nobody really seen it because it was busch practice, but I was in the infield @ michigan in between turn 3 and 4 and I remember I was sitting on my dads trailer and, I seen this car going by, and it just spun around and hit the wall pretty good with the back end of the car. The stands were empty and hardly any one was watching in the infield.
chilledvoodoo 3 years ago 4
I was 5 when he had that crash and I remember explaining to my younger neighbors how he might die. I wrote him a card or letter every week while he was recovering and have been given many thanks by him for it. Such a great man.
JLPrinzess 4 years ago
Man I remember this like it was yesterday. I was only 8 or 9 years old at the time and was a huge Ernie Irvan fan. I'm confident he would've won the Winston Cup that year had the wreck not happened. But he was resilient and got back on the track. I still look up to him for that.
oviedol55 4 years ago
I know!!! its a BIG acomplishment!!! LOL
ILikeCheeze24 4 years ago
yes
ILikeCheeze24 4 years ago
Ernie was never the same after that. He had one more big wreck and then that was it. Quite a shame. He was a great driver and capable of winning a title.
Crisgo3d 4 years ago 4
wow. Poor Ernie Irvan! Wonder if he'd come back to racin?
StewieGriffin1985 4 years ago
Yes Ernie Irvan did com back to racing. He came back to racing at the end of 1995 and he raced until 1999 and won 3 races. 2 in 1996 and 1 in 1997. But he had a big crash in 1999 and retired from racing after that. The fact is it is a miracle that he lived let alone to come back to racing and win.
Tvsnumber1fan 4 years ago
yeah I know that part but come back racin in the Sprint Cup Series
StewieGriffin1985 4 years ago
its too dangerous, one more brain injury and he could be gone.
JLPrinzess 4 years ago
yeah
Ernie just hasnt been the same since this race
StewieGriffin1985 4 years ago
man i love these old nascar vids. I was born on the day ernie had that crash.
ILikeCheeze24 4 years ago