1984 Nightdona 500

The 1984 Nightdona 500 is considered the deadliest and MOST HISTORIC Nightdona/Florida 500 of all time. The reason due to this was a CRAZY crash on lap 195 took place at turn 1. Johnathan Melter got loose because of debris belonging to Alexander Shields and hit part-time racer Brush Curber forcing Brush into Greg Candyman. Candyman's tire was damaged and he turned left with Brush sending both into the infield grass. Then what happened next is a moment that generation will never forget, Candyman hit the inside wall and went back into the track into the cars. Candyman would spin a spectacular TWENTY THREE CARS out of the race! Brush also flipped four times as he also got back into the track and into the cars. This race is one of only 2 Nightdona/Florida 500's to have had a red flag, the other one being in 1990 when Frank Marintire had a massive crash. An onboard camera on Dale Sr shows the chaos in front of him including Brush Curber flipping 4 times before he was hit by Greg Locke causing him to flip. Rusty Cornfuel had nowhere to go and hit Curber. Greg Locke then hit the wall before being t boned by Alex Quint. Brian Gearly had nowhere to go and climbed on the outside wall causing Gearly to lose his front tires before he went back on the track before being hit by William Highbanks in the rear causing the rear tires to come off too. Mike Yankee and Tom Landis hit Bill Shields and Shields ended up on his side. Ron Pitcar lost a tire. Don Alternators got t boned by Brad Gonzalez and Kevin Racingtire had got a concussion after being hit by one of Brian Gearly's tires.

Mike Seasons and Sammy Smelter, the last cars to enter the wreck prayed they would make it out safe but before they even dodged the first car they made contact with each other and hit the wall.

With how big the crash was and the amount of damage the cars received the race was red-flagged which surprised absolutely no one not even Matthew True Blue McCrew who also was happy The King was not in the crash. It was restarted after 20 minutes were spent clearing the damaged cars and the parts and oil on the track. The tow truck couldn't do the job himself so 2 cranes were sent out to take out some of the damaged cars.

The 14 who finished were winner The King, 2nd place Chick Hicks, 3rd place SOMEHOW part-time racer Haul Inngas, 4th Ernie Gearson, 5th Frank Marintire, 6th Eugene Carbureski, 7th Klint Shiftright, 8th Cole Speedland, 9th Bill Brady, 10th Ronald Oaks, 11th Harold Axel, 12th Don Chapcar, 13th rookie Thomas Tanrev and 14th Alexander Shields. Alloy Wilson (the most popular driver from 1981-1986) sadly was also involved.

Candyman was hit at least 30 times causing severe severe damage and poor Greg Candyman nearly died and would miss the next 24 races before returning to the 1984 Leak Less 400.

All part-timers race because it was an important race.

The finish was so close that The King and Chick Hicks tied. Until the first replay, it's revealed that The King won the 1984 Nightdona 500. Chick Hicks placed second and 3rd Inngas. The other 11 are listed above and the racers after Alexander Shields are listed in the results section below.

Slide Powers could not attend the race due to injuries in practice. He was replaced by brother Jordan Powers Sr.

The race was extended to 205 laps, due to green/white/checker (overtime) finish.

Besides Candyman and Curber, Alternators, Shields, Locke, Cleanair, Dale Sr, and part-time racer Kevin Racingtire were all inflicted with injuries which caused them to miss the 2nd race of the season (Las Vegas 400). The injured Brush (as well as the others involved in the crash except for Greg) returned for the Texas 350 while Greg returned for the Leak Less 400.

It's also known because Mike Yankee got a new pitty named Paul Martin.