Share and Follow
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The much-anticipated “Big One” crash took place earlier than expected during Sunday’s Daytona 500, resulting in a massive 20-car pile-up. This chaotic scene unfolded shortly after the race’s midway point, involving three-time Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin among other potential front-runners.
Justin Allgaier, piloting a vehicle prepared by two-time winner Dale Earnhardt Jr., was at the forefront when Hamlin attempted an outside pass at Daytona International Speedway. Allgaier’s aggressive block maneuver forced Hamlin into the wall, triggering the collision with just seven laps left in NASCAR’s season-opening event’s second stage.
Hamlin, who was vying to join the ranks of four-time Daytona 500 champions, careened into the infield grass. The accident also ensnared notable drivers such as former winner Michael McDowell, Alex Bowman, Shane van Gisbergen, Ross Chastain, Erik Jones, and John Hunter Nemechek.
Bubba Wallace, a two-time runner-up at the Daytona 500, managed to navigate through the debris unharmed. He seized the lead and clinched the stage win under caution. Wallace races for 23XI Racing, a team co-owned by Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan.
In anticipation of possible afternoon rain showers, the race’s start time had been advanced by an hour to avoid weather disruptions.
Kyle Busch, driving the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, led the field to the green flag in hopes of winning “The Great American Race” for the first time in 21 tries. He holds the race’s longest active skid.
William Byron is trying to become the first driver in history to win the Daytona 500 three consecutive years. But Byron had to switch to a backup car following a qualifying crash and landed on pit road in the opening laps Sunday after B.J. McLeod spun in front of him, leading Byron to hit the outside wall.
Byron won last year’s event in overtime after race leader Denny Hamlin got spun on the final lap, igniting a multicar crash. Byron ended up passing eight cars on the last lap to return to victory lane.
Can he make it three in a row? Four others — Richard Petty in 1975, Cale Yarborough in 1985, Sterling Marlin in 1996 and Hamlin in 2021 — came up short in three-peat bids at NASCAR’s signature race.
The field includes seven other previous Daytona 500 winners, most notably three-time winner Hamlin and seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson. Hamlin is trying to bounce back from a heartbreaking loss in the 2025 season finale and the December death of his father. Johnson, meanwhile, is again driving the No. 84 Toyota for his team, Legacy Motor Club.
McLeod, who grabbed a spot in the race when Anthony Alfredo was disqualified following an inspection after Thursday’s qualifying races, spun five laps into the race and had to get towed to the garage. Casey Mears, who claimed one of the few open spots in his qualifier, sustained car damage when McLeod lost control.