'My worst nightmare': Reynolds silencing demons over 'massive' Bathurst crash

It takes guts to take on the Mountain. It takes guts to go fast. It also takes guts to come back from a big crash.

That was the reality for David Reynolds 12 months ago, after the 2017 winner encountered his "worst nightmare" in a frightening qualifying crash.

Few are as committed and as quick around Mount Panorama than Reynolds, a two-time pole winner on the biggest stage. Chasing a Shootout spot last year, Reynolds, despite arriving in Bathurst off the back of a tough campaign, was on the money.

Then, it pivoted in an instant, a bone-rattling crash caught live on the broadcast, leaving Neil Crompton and Mark Skaife breathless.

"I don't know what happened"

They were among the first words Reynolds communicated back to veteran engineer Richard Hollway as red flags flew, the #20 TRADIE Beer Chevrolet laying stricken on the approach to The Dipper. Reynolds quickly radioed he was fine, and that he'd had a "massive shunt."

The damage obviously put Reynolds out of the session, but also affected the rest of his weekend. The car was repaired, but the chassis was bent, leaving Reynolds/Warren Luff little to fight with on race day.

All told, it masked what could have been a fairytale. Reynolds was fourth on the time sheets at the time of his crash. By Sunday afternoon, the #20 was 23rd, two laps down.

“Sometimes you're unlucky, and sometimes you're lucky,” Reynolds recounted to Supercars.com.

“Last year, that was just one of those shit moments, I guess. Obviously it's a big crash and that was my worst nightmare was to crash at that exact spot."

So, what really happened?

Well, to this day, Reynolds still doesn't quite know how he ended up in that position. For someone with 482 races and 17 Bathurst starts to his name, it's a peculiar admission, but one that rams home just how tricky the Mountain is.

One of the fastest drivers Bathurst has ever seen, Reynolds tripped over the kerb coming down the hill, and his car snapped sideways. He was a passenger from that point, and the end result was a 32G impact.

He insists he isn't carrying any scars, nor is he fighting any demons. That was evident by Reynolds jumping in the car the very next day, bravery also exhibited by Will Davison, who was knocked around in a crash of his own.

Naturally, it's human to want answers. Reynolds is as inquisitive as they come. Still, that incident irks him.

"I don't have any hang-ups per se, I guess I don't know until I get there," he explained.

"I still did the race last year, even though my car was pretty upset.

“It was just one of those things that I still don't really understand why it happened, which is a little bit scary, but that happens sometimes.”

Chasing ultimate redemption

It wasn't his first Bathurst crash. Take 2014, when he shunted across the top in qualifying He bent his Falcon that day, yet got back behind the saddle and threatened to win the race on Sunday, albeit for electrical issues to bring his efforts to a heartbreaking halt.

Since his 2017 triumph, Reynolds has had his fair share of Bathurst heartaches since. See 2018.

Ultimately, the easiest way to banish demons is to win the race. Off the back of another tough season, that's exactly what Reynolds is planning to do.

"If you were to come dead last every race for the year, but you turn up and win Bathurst, it's the best year of your life,” Reynolds said.

"I've been lucky enough just to drive fast cars there. I don't think I do anything different to any other track I drive. The older I get, the more I understand that sentence."

"It just makes racing fun again"

A recent constant in silly season chatter, Reynolds has had many on his back. It's easy to get bogged down by finding that extra half-tenth, or answer the same questions to fans and media, over and over again.

For Reynolds, the addition of Lee Holdsworth has been a breath of fresh air. Holdsworth himself was written off many times before he exploded into life alongside Chaz Mostert in 2021, winning the race.

For what it's worth, there are just two all-Bathurst winning combinations on the 2025 grid: Brodie Kostecki/Todd Hazelwood, and Reynolds/Holdsworth.

Unbeknownst to us, Bathurst has its redemption stories lined up, ready to fire out at will. Armed with a larrikin in Holdsworth, Reynolds is ready to return to the Mountain and have fun, and who knows: maybe redemption could be served up in the sweetest way.

"I've known Lee for a long time and watched him do so well in his life,” Reynolds said.

“He won with Mostert in ’21, the year before he got provisional pole, and he was my teammate the year after he won. I know he is a very good operator. We just need to make our car suit the track and the tyre and everything like that.

“But I love working with him. He's such a cool guy, such a fun character. It just makes racing fun again, and that's why I love these two races."