What can elicit a collective sigh of relief from a crowd of over 500 people? What can silence of room full of avid fans? What is the one moment every fan will talk about weeks after the race ends? The wrecks. They come in all types: multi-car, single-car, hitting the rail, sandbank or wall, or sometimes the complete demolition of the race car. There are two things that all wrecks have in common: The fans are intrigued by them, and they want the driver to walk away from the wreck.

When the Driver Survives:

Fortunately, most wrecks result in the driver crawling from his car and waving at the crowd. The cars are most often not that well off. There are either pieces strewn across the track, or the car has to visit pit lane for some hasty repairs. Due to all the safety equipment, the driver is able to return and please his fans again at the next race, even if his car was totally demolished.

How the Drivers Survive:

There is an exhaustive list of safety equipment to protect the drivers. There's the fire resistant clothing that they wear, the helmets, the seat belts, the head rest system, and the Hans device that all work together to protect your favorite driver during an accident. So, if you ever wondered how on earth a man can walk away from what looks like little more than an alien pod, thank people like Dr. Robert Hubbard who developed a neck restraint system, the Hans device, to protect a driver from a basal skull fracture during a would-be fatal wreck.

When Drivers Lose Their Lives:

Occasionally the physical dynamics of an accident and the sheer violence involved results in the loss of life despite all the safety measures. In moments like the tragic night in

1999 when Dale Earnhardt did not emerge with that smile and a wave, the audience never quiet recovers from the silence. Today, his loss is still mourned by fans across the country. As unfortunate as a death may be, it does cause officials to pause and reevaluate safety, and that often results in even greater safety for the remaining drivers.

NASCAR wrecks are commonplace in a world where steel and concrete meet at speeds in excess of 180 mph. Miraculously, though, most of the drivers not only walk away, but also do so with little to no injury. It is that fact that allows the fans of this dangerous sport to watch for both the competitive nature and for that occasional spin or flip that will cause the heart to beat just a little faster and the breath to catch in their throats.