The Big One (NASCAR) - Sprint Cup Series

Sprint Cup Series

In 1987, a pileup ushered in changes to NASCAR superspeedway racing. On the 22nd lap of the Winston 500, a tire blew on Bobby Allison's car, sending it into an airborne spin at over 200 mph. The car crashed into the catch fencing protecting the grandstands, ripping down a large section, demolishing his car, and colliding with several other cars. Although one spectator reportedly lost an eye, and many other fans suffered cuts and bruises from flying debris, no one was killed.

Following that race, NASCAR introduced safety rules to slow the cars at Daytona and Talladega for the remainder of the 1987 season. 390 CFM carbs were mandated two months later at the next race in question. During the final lap of the 1987 Pepsi Firecracker 400, Ken Schrader got loose and flipped over near the finish line, collecting Harry Gant.

After Schrader's flip, NASCAR decided further regulation was necessary. In 1988, starting with the season-opening Daytona 500, NASCAR mandated restrictor plates at the two tracks. But it was the 1990 Pepsi 400 that led to the modern "Big One" crashes.