The 1995 Winston 100 at Charlotte was the 15th series start for Phillips, who entered the race having just won his first pole position after setting a lap speed of 157.444 miles per hour (253.382 km/h).

Phillips was in tenth place when his Oldsmobile was hit by the car of Steven Howard, who steered high to avoid a two-car spinout on the apron in turn 4.

Phillips, whose body was mutilated by the track's steel catch fence and a caution light fixture at high speed, was both dismembered and decapitated, in what a photographer on-scene described, "as gruesome a wreck as I can ever recall".

[3] In video footage taken at the scene of the accident, the first rescuer is initially shown running to the car, then immediately turning away after seeing Phillips' body and realizing the hopelessness of any attempt at resuscitation.

Track president Humpy Wheeler elected not to cancel the event, citing Phillips' wreck as a "freak deal.

"[1] Phillips' death resulted in a serious debate about roll cage design practices, construction methods and inspection techniques applied to NASCAR Limited Sportsman Division cars.