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NASCAR overall has not been good at staying out of controversies through its history, both in the modern day and overall. The same can be said for the Texas Motor Speedway and its tenure in the NASCAR Cup Series. In April of 2013 these two forces had one of their largest controversies of the 2010s with the 2013 NRA 500. The race was a centerpiece in a social and political fight between the most partisan of Americans at the time. This race also had a forgotten tragedy involved in it as well when it came to one of the infield fans. This is the most controversial NASCAR race at Texas.
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Outro Song:
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Music Credits:
Unfoldment, Revealment, Evolution, Exposition, Integration by Chris Zabriskie on the YouTube Audio Library
47 comments
What are the most controversial NASCAR races you remember?
2008 Brickyard 400
2022 All Star Race
Talladega 2008….when they screwed Regan Smith and DEI out of a win.
2020 Talladega Fall.
I’d say 2022 all star race, which was at Texas
It’s so frustrating because this week was also very historic for Kyle Busch. He won the pole, led the most laps, set a new track record and swept the weekend. Such a shame.
Pure perfection
Did he win I was not here
Ye
If there was a Dark Side of Racing tv series like Dark Side of the ring,the 2013 NRA 500 would easily be a great episode.
Also all of those races where somebody crashed but instead of dying cause of the crash, died due to heart attack, stroke, etc
Along with episodes about the Firestone Firehawk 600 (which was CART’s failed attempt to race at Texas), everything surrounding the 2011 Las Vegas Indycar event (in which Dan Wheldon was killed) & absolute farce that was the 2005 US GP at Indy for F1
I remember covering the self-gunshot wound story and the sponsor story on my series. The behind the scenes before and during the race was a mess.
I’ll never forget finding out the self-gunshot wound story years (when I was in high school, basically like a couple of years after the story) before I covered the stories.
The racing thare is that bad.
“I think it was Darrell Waltrip Jr.”
(sigh)
Not as bad as many others tbf but yeah lmao.
A reason that news media needs to do quick research on the sport before talking about it. When I heard that, I just groaned
It’s honestly so sad how a man at a NASCAR race, something that brings joy in a fan, ended up shooting himself at this exact race…
As someone who has had depression for years, and was even suicidal at one point, it breaks my heart to see people die to such an awful thing.
If you, or a loved one are suicidal, this race is a reminder… You are not alone.
The racing thare is that bad
@Robert Stone Dude…
@IShowMeat, thank u for saying this. I have chronic depression. It happened from June to November 2022. It reappeared in January, the majority of March and April, mid-July, 4 days in August, Sept. 3rd, 8th, 9th, and yesterday. It is very hard to deal with. I sometimes have suicidal thoughts, but I think about my friends and family to help me not act upon them
You forgot to include the Brad Keslowski post race interview with Bob Pokrass.
wha happun?
And I thought the tire controversies last year, and the caution controversy last year were bad…
There was a race later in 2013 where the SkyCamera cable snapped midrace too….
I think this is called a “nontroversy”. It was only a controversy in the media, but breaking news, most NASCAR fans are pretty pro gun
Not all. After nascar became open to diversity they have new non stereotypical fans
@Luke Lyall I didn’t say all, I said most. Guess what, despite the push for diversity, most NASCAR fans are still from a very pro gun walk of life. Not all, but most. Gas guzzling V8s and firearms kinda go hand in hand
Yes, but tact needed to be used, was not in this case due to the specific Shooting being the then 2nd worst ever.
@Nathan1Sixteen I’m not a conservative. I’m middle to left. But I like guns. I just hate the fact that guns & a book with no evidence is valued over human life
I’m from Canada and thankfully nobody in my family has had to deal with gun violence of any kind, but considering the climate surrounding NASCAR it’s no wonder most fans are pro gun. I try not to have any political allegiances, but how many times do you hear about school shootings in the US every year? How many times is America gonna keep letting the same thing happen over and over and over again?
I was 12 when this race happened, and I didn’t know much about the political situation behind this race. The only thing I remember from this race was that Jeff Gordon (my favorite driver at the time) retired from the race early due to a weird suspension issue
In terms of controversy around a NASCAR race, to me, nothing will top the inaugural race at Talladega, the 1969 Talladega 500. Having watched S1apsh0es video about it, I’m sure we all know what happened. But the disastrous combination of a track that had been rushed to be completed, Bill France Senior using his financial situation to dig his heels in, tyres from Firestone and Goodyear that couldn’t handle the loads, a driver walkout, on the hoof rule changes by Bill France Senior, replacement cars from the preliminary race (that were nowhere near as fast as the Cup Cars), 3 Cup drivers (only 1 of which was a familiar name) and if all that wasn’t bad enough, a scoring error, means that this takes the cake for most controversial race in NASCAR I feel
Settle down… its not a competition between the race you mentioned and this race the video is about. The title does say “at Texas”, it doesn’t say “at Talladega” or “all time”.
@WB3I’m not saying it was, I was responding to what was said at 9:05
This was my first cup race, that I watched in person. I enjoyed it for the most part. I think gordon had a wheel hub break. That was a gut punch disappointment. But enjoyed it.
Shout out to Darrell Waltrip Jr. That man was a legend lmao
Should’ve been a cup series champion if it weren’t for his team forgetting to bring an engine to Atlanta
Fun Fact: Both Team Penske cars barely made to the start of this event due to failing pre race inspection after being busted for illegal rear end housing parts which were confiscated
Which ended up with Paul Wolfe received a Crying Towel from Jimmy Spencer during One of NASCAR Race Hub Segments with Mr. Excitement
All I remembered from this race was that this was the one race in early 2013 that Jeff Gordon was relevant. Ran in the top 5 for most of the first 300 laps before he had an issue that caused him to DNF out of the race.
That was the most tip toed, controversial event due to the title sponsor in the heart of Texas. Polarization 500 that weekend.
This race is the first ever NASCAR race I saw on tv. It’s why Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon are my favorite drivers. I’m currently watching it on NASCAR classics.
Hey I was finally at a meaningful iceberg video! This was my 3rd cup race at texas and I had a blast. This was when the speed and horsepower was really there.
I think the 2020 Real Heroes 400 at Darlington is a controversial race. The 1st race after the Covid lockdown. So many people were saying it was too soon, it’s non essential, it would increase hospitalizations, etc.
Tbh, I don’t remember any controversy from this race lol
I do remember the man taking his life though and that was heartbreaking… I actually saw a person pass away in the TMS grandstands a year or 2 before during the Nationwide race.