The 1996 Talladega "Ride of Hell"

Horrifying moment at Talladega

"Thank God everyone was able to walk away"

Talladega, July 26, 1996

Dale  Earnhardt had his wildest ride at the 1996 "DieHard 500" at Talladega. With pains and suffering fractures of the sternum and left collarbone, Dale left his totally wrecked car under his own power with a little help of rescue workers and walked to the ambulance under his own feets. Dale said to a doctor at Birmingham hospital, the most pain comes from his bruised heart not form the several injuries.

Dale's ghastly crash occurred as he battled fellow Chevrolet driver Sterling Marlin for the lead going into Turn 1. There was contact between Marlin and Ford rival Ernie Irvan, third at the time, and Marlin tagged Dale in the right rear, turning him hard into the wall.

"I knew I was going to hit the wall and I knew it was going to hurt," Dale said. "I remember everything. When I turned abruptly into the wall is when I broke my sternum. Then the car got up on its side and slid along and I could see the asphalt pavement through the window net.

I hunkered down as much as I could and I was gripping  the steering wheel with both hands to keep from beeing thrown around the cockpit, cause I knew following cars were going to hit me."

Dale's car flipped on its side after he crashed hard into the wall. Than he was hit in the roof by following Ford of Derrike Cope, then by the Chevys of Robert Pressley and Ken Schrader as the car got back upright.

"I saw Derrik coming and he hit me in the roof, mashing the front of the roof down toward the dash. Then Robert Pressley hit me, and I think this collision broke my left collarbone. As my car got back on its wheels, Kenny hit me also." Dale grinned. "Kenny told me, 'I seen you and I aimed for you,' " Dale said.

"Smoke was rolling out from under the dash because a lot of wires were burning. I was hurting, but I was able to reach out and switch the battery off."

"I could hear Richard (Childress) calling me on the radio. And I could hear Richard talking with my wife, Teresa, who had a radio. My radio wouldn't transmit, and I couldn't talk back."

"I remeber the rescue crew getting to my car. I told them not to cut the roof off, 'cause I thought I could get out with a little help. I did get out, and I wanted to lay down, but couldn't because of the pain. That's wy I walked to the ambulance rather than getting on a stretcher."

One week later, Dale despite his injuries, he was planing to drive at Saturdays Indianapolis Brickyard 400. He drove the first three laps at Indy and was replaced by Mike Skinner.

At Watkins Glen, another week later, Dale winning the pole, one-handed...! 

The wreck at Talladega didn't stop him from winning the pole at the Bud at the Glen with a track record speed of 120.733 mph. Dale started at the front and he said 'he feels too good!'

Dale led 51 of the first 54 laps at Watkins Glen and finished sixth to stay within 76 points of Terry Labonte.

Dale never did give up his seat to relief David Green, though he'd maintained all weekend he would at some point in the 90-lap race at the Bud at the Glen.

It's iron....what?