Talladega Superspeedway is known on the Nascar circuit for high speeds, packs of cars racing inches apart and spectacular multicar wrecks that fans love and drivers endure. A crash occurs during almost every race at Talladega, a huge Alabama oval, like the one in the final laps of a Nationwide Series event there in May 2012.

Eric McClure was driving the No. 14 Toyota that day and was among those involved in the crash. As McClure’s car hurtled about 185 miles an hour toward the infield wall, he knew he was in trouble.

His brakes had failed.

“The only thing I can remember is knowing I was going to hit the wall,” McClure said, “and just pretty well figuring that was the end of my life and just wondering if I was going to feel it.”

McClure was knocked unconscious by the impact, cut out of the car and flown to a hospital. He sustained internal bruising and a concussion and was unable to race for more than a month.