On Saturday August 20, 1994, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ernie Irvan was almost killed in a violent wreck during practice for the Goodwrench 400 at Michigan International Speedway.

Irvan slammed nearly head-on into the wall outside of turn 2 after cutting a tire and sustained multiple injuries including collapsed lungs and a fractured skull and was placed on life support at a nearby hospital. Doctors there gave him a less than 20% chance to make it through that first night.

Irvan proved them all wrong and not only made it through the night but went on to race again in NASCAR’s premier division.

When the Winston Cup Series (now Sprint Cup Series) made its first stop at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 1996, Irvan was strapped into his car and started the race in 6th.

He took the lead for the first time on lap 57 and then raced with the leaders for the remainder of the race. The checkered flag looked like it would go to Jeff Gordon but he had ignition issues on lap 237 that caused him some problems.

Irvan took the lead from Gordon after gambling by staying out on the track during a caution flag. He then pitted for his final stop on lap 245 and their gamble paid off as the rest of the race stayed green.

Irvan crossed the stripe 5.47 seconds ahead of his teammate Dale Jarrett, who ironically had replaced him in his car after the horrific wreck at Michigan.

“I’m happy to be a winner again,” Irvan said. “There was no doubt in my mind that this day would come…Until you win, you never know if you’re going to do it again. Maybe this will shut them up.”

He went on to win again that year at Richmond and the following year he conquered the track that almost killed him by going to Victory Lane at MIS.

In 1999 Michigan bit him again. Irvan wrecked hard during practice for a Busch Series (now Nationwide Series) race and sustained another head injury. He announced his retirement from the sport less than two weeks later.

But, on that July day at New Hampshire, Irvan had done the unthinkable. He proved everyone wrong and got back to Victory Lane after surviving the same type of wreck that killed fellow NASCAR drivers Neal Bonnett and Rodney Orr earlier that same year and later Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin at New Hampshire Motor Speedway as well as Dale Earnhardt in the 2001 Daytona 500.

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