One mistake can lead to a spectacular crash. This year's Daytona 500 featured a 19-car crash where Tony Stewart's car flipped along the backstretch and landed on top of teammate Bobby Labonte's hood. Stewart suffered minor injuries. No one else was hurt. Two players have died because of contact injuries in professional football, baseball, basketball or hockey games.
Fans contend that racing is no more dangerous than other sports.
No matter what you're doing, there's always that chance. That is how Bass and others return to the sport and enjoy it even while missing Earnhardt's famous black No. 3 car. Maybe danger plays a part in their interest, but there is much more that draws them to stock-car racing.