The Big One is a phrase describing any crash usually involving five or more cars in NASCAR, ARCA, and IndyCar racing. It is most commonly used at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, although occasionally seen at other tracks as well, such as Dover Motor Speedway and Watkins Glen International.
Until the 2000s, massive crashes were referred to as "major" [1] [2] [3] or "terrific" [4] crashes.
By the mid-1990s, competitors and media began taking note of the multi-car wrecks at Daytona and Talladega. In 1997, Dale Earnhardt described a final-lap crash at the 1997 Pepsi 400 as "the Big Wreck". [5] News articles began using the term "Big Wreck" to describe such crashes in 1998, [6] and by 1999, its use was widespread. Drivers began to openly admit they were apprehensive of its possibility. [7]
One of the first times the term "The Big One" was used on-air was during the Winston 500 on ESPN October 11, 1998. Commentator Bob Jenkins said during the crash on lap 134 "This is the big one that we had hoped we would not have." [8] One of the first published instances of the term "The Big One," was an April 18, 2000, article on ESPN.com about a crash in the DieHard 500. [9] The term was also being used informally by fans on message boards.
During the 2001 Daytona 500, Fox commentator Darrell Waltrip used the term on-air to describe an 18-car crash in the backstretch on lap 173, as saying "It's the big one, gang, it's the big one. It's what we've all been fearing in this kind of racing is going to happen." [10]
By 2001, the phrase was widely used by competitors, fans, and in print and broadcast media. [11] It soon became standard NASCAR vernacular, and it became a retronym to describe past such accidents as well. [12] [13]
The Big One has been the subject of criticism of NASCAR. [13] Some have complained that the sanctioning body, promoters and media have celebrated the crashes. [13]
By 2009, Talladega Superspeedway marketed itself on the notorious crashes, with hot dogs, and later meatballs billed as "The Big One," with activities on Friday night after on-track action concludes billed as "The Big One on Talladega Boulevard". [14]
The GEICO 500 is a NASCAR Cup Series stock car race held at the Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. The race is usually held in April or May. The 1997 event stands as the fastest NASCAR race to date ever run with an average speed of 188.354 miles per hour (303.126 km/h) and was the first race at Talladega Superspeedway that was not interrupted by a caution period.
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