The 2026 Daytona 500, NASCAR’s most prestigious event, delivered one of the most chaotic and contentious finishes in recent memory, leaving drivers furious, fans divided, and the sport facing fresh scrutiny over its high-stakes superspeedway racing style. Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing emerged as the winner, claiming the Harley J. Earl Trophy in a thrilling yet controversial triumph that marked Michael Jordan’s first Daytona 500 victory as a team owner.
However, the celebration was overshadowed by a series of dramatic incidents on the final lap, sparking heated post-race reactions from several prominent drivers who did not mince words about what they saw as reckless and poorly timed moves.
The race itself had already been action-packed, featuring multiple “Big Ones”—massive multicar wrecks that are a hallmark of restrictor-plate racing at Daytona International Speedway. One such pileup occurred earlier when Denny Hamlin rear-ended Justin Allgaier, triggering a chain reaction that collected numerous cars and reshaped the field. Yet it was the final lap that truly ignited the controversy. As the white flag waved, Carson Hocevar held the lead in his Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, with Michael McDowell running second and Erik Jones lurking close behind.
In Turn 1, Jones made contact with Hocevar’s rear bumper, spinning the leader and collecting McDowell in the process. Several cars spun or were damaged in the aftermath, but no caution flag was thrown—an outcome that echoed debates from previous seasons about late-race incidents near the finish line.
This sudden shuffle thrust Chase Elliott into the lead momentarily as the pack surged toward Turns 3 and 4. Elliott, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, appeared poised to secure his first Daytona 500 win in dramatic fashion. But disaster struck again when Riley Herbst, racing for 23XI, attempted a block to protect his teammate Reddick’s run. Herbst moved aggressively from the bottom groove up to the top, catching Brad Keselowski’s No. 6 car and triggering another multicar wreck that swept up Elliott, Keselowski, and others.
Reddick, positioned perfectly to capitalize on the chaos, avoided the mayhem and crossed the finish line first, followed by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Joey Logano.
Keselowski, a veteran known for his candid commentary, was livid in his post-race interview. He described Herbst’s maneuver as “one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen,” emphasizing that the block wrecked not only himself but also others who had strong cars. “To block from the very bottom all the way to the top and wreck yourself and everybody else is just stupid.
Very, very stupid,” Keselowski said, his frustration evident as he recounted being hit “out of nowhere for no reason.” The comments quickly spread across social media and NASCAR circles, fueling discussions about aggressive blocking tactics at superspeedways and whether they cross into dangerous territory.
Chase Elliott, who had led off Turn 4 only to see victory slip away, expressed deep disappointment. “We were leading the Daytona 500 off Turn 4 coming to the checkered flag and didn’t win. So you tell me,” he told reporters, highlighting the heartbreak of being so close yet ending up in the wall. Carson Hocevar, who had been in position to become one of the youngest Daytona 500 winners, was equally gutted after his spin.
“It’s unfortunate that a car in my mirror at the white flag won the race,” he noted, alluding to the contact from Jones that derailed his shot.
Reddick, in Victory Lane, acknowledged the wild nature of the finish while expressing pride in the breakthrough for 23XI Racing. After a winless 2025 season that had tested the team, the victory provided a much-needed boost, especially for co-owner Michael Jordan, who celebrated his 63rd birthday with the milestone. Reddick led only the final moments but credited his crew and the car’s handling in the draft for allowing him to survive the carnage. “I didn’t know if I’d won the race or not” amid the smoke and wreckage, he admitted, underscoring how unpredictable the closing seconds had been.
The incidents prompted broader criticism of NASCAR’s rules enforcement, particularly around when cautions are displayed in late-race situations. Similar controversies had arisen in prior years, including a Duel race where a late wreck altered outcomes without yellow flags. Some argued that throwing a caution after Hocevar’s spin could have set up a green-white-checkered restart, potentially giving more drivers a fair shot at the win. Instead, the race ended under green, amplifying the sense of injustice for those caught in the wrecks.
Fans, too, voiced strong opinions online, with many calling the finish “embarrassing” due to the unnecessary wrecks, while others praised Reddick for smart positioning and avoiding trouble. The result placed three 23XI cars in the top 10, a strong showing for the organization amid ongoing discussions about its competitive edge. Yet the driver outbursts highlighted lingering tensions in the garage, where split-second decisions at 200 mph can end seasons or spark rivalries.
Herbst later defended his actions, stating he was simply racing hard to win the biggest event in the sport. “If the same things happened again, I would do the same thing again,” he said, framing it as desperate superspeedway racing where everyone pushes limits. His spotter had instructed the high block, but timing proved disastrous, leading to an on-track apology amid the wreckage.
As NASCAR heads into the rest of the 2026 season, the Daytona 500 aftermath serves as a reminder of the fine line between thrilling competition and frustration. Reddick’s win stands as a legitimate achievement, but the lingering anger from drivers like Keselowski and Elliott ensures the conversation will continue. Whether it leads to rule tweaks—such as clearer guidelines on late-race blocking or caution procedures—remains to be seen. For now, the Great American Race has once again lived up to its reputation for drama, delivering unforgettable moments alongside bitter disappointment in its chaotic final lap.
