Did a video about this a few months ago. Definitely a shocking story that goes unrecognized today! Glad more of us NASCAR RUclipsrs are covering these stories.
Surprisingly, LeeRoy Yarbrough’s crash was comparatively mild to Fred Lorenzen’s crash that very same year. During practice for the 1971 Southern 500, Lorenzen lost control of his #21 Mercury Cyclone and slammed the turn 4 wall, likely due to a mechanical failure. Lorenzon’s car slammed the top of the wall and was sent several feet into the air. Think Richard Petty’s 1970 Darlington crash, but instead of bouncing off the car went over and instead of it being the pit wall it was turn 4. Lorenzens car did a full barrel roll mid air before miraculously falling back onto the wall and bouncing back onto the track. However, Lorenzen’s throttle stuck after he had slid down the apron and the car veered back up the track and hit the wall on the fronstrech, making a massive hole in the concrete wall just infront of the grandstands, and the car then flipped into the air once more, landing hard on the drivers door and causing the car to spin on the door until getting to the start finnish line before it came back to its wheels . Lorenzen required surgery after the accident, but was back in the car in about a month. The accident may be the most unkown accident of the 1970s where the driver could’ve easily been killed had the crash been even slightly different. Overall, another very interesting video topic I recommend you check out, for it has faded into obscurity over the past half century.
In following NASCAR for many decades, I've gotten the impression that the car that crashes which displays a lot of movement/motion after the collision, such as the case with Petty at Darlington in 1970, are more survivable than those collisions appearing benign, such as Earnhardt at Daytona in 2001. Could it be that the collision vehicle's movement/motion dissipates the energy impact; whereas in those benign appearing collisions the energy force is more concentrated onto the driver?
@@bloqk16 The sudden stop or change in direction is what gets you. See Robert Wickens' 2018 IndyCar crash at Pocono. He was going something like 212 mph when his car was launched into the fence, Fortunately he survived and has been able to return to racing (in cars equipped with hand controls), but that sudden stop/change in direction is what left him paralyzed. On the other hand, Austin Dillon went from 190+ to zero in a few feet when he hit the fence at Daytona in 2015 and he's apparently suffered no ill effects from it. Maybe the fence "gave" just enough in that case, who knows? But generally if the car keeps moving it's much better than a sudden stop, or getting hit by another car after it's come to a stop.
Same thing that befell John Wes Townley but people somehow think his case is different. Look at the crashes he had. Look at the crashes Dick Trickle had that led to his problems and eventually taking his own life. CTE and pain issues are very real. As an RN. I'll be the first to tell u. Lee Roy wasn't in full control
There's also Chris Benoit's case, a wrestler who suffered with concussions and ended up having similarly erratic behavior that ultimately led to the worst possible outcome.
Also Eric McClure. Along with the other health issues he suffered from I would not be surprised if CTE was a culprit there. Head injuries are absolutely no joke.
He was good freinds with Ronnie VanZant who lived a few blocks over. Jax speedway was down the street. Same track where Wendell Scott won his famous race.
I live down the road from where Leeroy lived. A few blocks away from where Jacksonville speedway used to be. My next door neighbor has lived in his house since ‘59 and helped leeroy on his car for years and tells me stories about him every chance he gets. Lynyrd Skynyrd grew up a few blocks away.
It's very sad what happened to LeeRoy. He was a very good and fast driver. Unfortunately, he had too many accidents. I think he suffered a fate worse than death.
I’m glad safety has improved across all motorsports. Leeroy in the end would be happy to know not many if anyone will ever have to suffer like he had in his last years because of head injuries due to accidents.
Did a video about this a few months ago. Definitely a shocking story that goes unrecognized today! Glad more of us NASCAR RUclipsrs are covering these stories.
Surprisingly, LeeRoy Yarbrough’s crash was comparatively mild to Fred Lorenzen’s crash that very same year. During practice for the 1971 Southern 500, Lorenzen lost control of his #21 Mercury Cyclone and slammed the turn 4 wall, likely due to a mechanical failure. Lorenzon’s car slammed the top of the wall and was sent several feet into the air. Think Richard Petty’s 1970 Darlington crash, but instead of bouncing off the car went over and instead of it being the pit wall it was turn 4. Lorenzens car did a full barrel roll mid air before miraculously falling back onto the wall and bouncing back onto the track. However, Lorenzen’s throttle stuck after he had slid down the apron and the car veered back up the track and hit the wall on the fronstrech, making a massive hole in the concrete wall just infront of the grandstands, and the car then flipped into the air once more, landing hard on the drivers door and causing the car to spin on the door until getting to the start finnish line before it came back to its wheels . Lorenzen required surgery after the accident, but was back in the car in about a month. The accident may be the most unkown accident of the 1970s where the driver could’ve easily been killed had the crash been even slightly different. Overall, another very interesting video topic I recommend you check out, for it has faded into obscurity over the past half century.
In following NASCAR for many decades, I've gotten the impression that the car that crashes which displays a lot of movement/motion after the collision, such as the case with Petty at Darlington in 1970, are more survivable than those collisions appearing benign, such as Earnhardt at Daytona in 2001.
Could it be that the collision vehicle's movement/motion dissipates the energy impact; whereas in those benign appearing collisions the energy force is more concentrated onto the driver?
@@bloqk16 The sudden stop or change in direction is what gets you. See Robert Wickens' 2018 IndyCar crash at Pocono. He was going something like 212 mph when his car was launched into the fence, Fortunately he survived and has been able to return to racing (in cars equipped with hand controls), but that sudden stop/change in direction is what left him paralyzed. On the other hand, Austin Dillon went from 190+ to zero in a few feet when he hit the fence at Daytona in 2015 and he's apparently suffered no ill effects from it. Maybe the fence "gave" just enough in that case, who knows?
But generally if the car keeps moving it's much better than a sudden stop, or getting hit by another car after it's come to a stop.
I made a Racing Stories episode on LeeRoy Yarbrough back in 2019. Such a touchy and dark story
great vid as always. hi from the UK
Same thing that befell John Wes Townley but people somehow think his case is different. Look at the crashes he had. Look at the crashes Dick Trickle had that led to his problems and eventually taking his own life. CTE and pain issues are very real. As an RN. I'll be the first to tell u. Lee Roy wasn't in full control
There's also Chris Benoit's case, a wrestler who suffered with concussions and ended up having similarly erratic behavior that ultimately led to the worst possible outcome.
I believe Cody ware has the same thing after that wreck he had at Texas or whateverr track it was
Also Eric McClure. Along with the other health issues he suffered from I would not be surprised if CTE was a culprit there. Head injuries are absolutely no joke.
Wait a minute...Didn't I see this video before? It looks extremely familiar... 🤔
He was good freinds with Ronnie VanZant who lived a few blocks over. Jax speedway was down the street. Same track where Wendell Scott won his famous race.
For any WWE fans here, safe to say Leeroy Yarbrough was the Chris Benoit of nascar.
I wouldn't go *that* far, but I get why you had that assumption.
@ I understand, it just reminded me of Chris, fortunately Leeroy didn’t do what Chris did.
Very sad. I vaguely remember him racing back in the day. Rest in Peace.
I live down the road from where Leeroy lived. A few blocks away from where Jacksonville speedway used to be. My next door neighbor has lived in his house since ‘59 and helped leeroy on his car for years and tells me stories about him every chance he gets.
Lynyrd Skynyrd grew up a few blocks away.
I have a LeeRoy Yarborough diecast. Sadly no box. Tossed it by accident
Really unfortunate with everything that happened to Leeroy R.I.P.
It's very sad what happened to LeeRoy. He was a very good and fast driver. Unfortunately, he had too many accidents. I think he suffered a fate worse than death.
Jesus that was surprising.
The bad events occured in the 1970's. And the story's conclusion was in 1984. They did not know what we do today... It's just a tragic situation.
I’m glad safety has improved across all motorsports. Leeroy in the end would be happy to know not many if anyone will ever have to suffer like he had in his last years because of head injuries due to accidents.
I know this is an “En Vogue” diagnosis for athletes these days, but this whole story screams “CTE” to me.
Look up Chris Benoit.....similar outcome ..but Benoit was ..sadly successful in his attempts
This was just tragic and sad.
Had no idea,
This would be the makings of a really good biopic if done correctly.
You just know he had CTE.
Can do a video covering Kyle Larsons 2013 Daytona Catchfence crash? It's like the closest NASCAR has been to becoming Final Destination.
Didn't we see this already
Damn that's sad....
and he was the only one to knock out Big Bill France.... sigh... now it just sounds worse after hearing this...
I have deja vu
Why
I think LeeRoy was battling demon Rum more than anything, still the accidents didn't help and it's a tragic story. Rip LeeRoy
Head Trauma is Real. Ask Gary Busey or Roseanne Barr or Dale Jr. for that matter...
Leeroy Jenkins
👍☮️
I bet he had cte caused by the crashes
Yes
first
NBR also made a Video on LeeRoy Yarborough back then