DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — On the final lap of the 2026 Daytona 500, Riley Herbst’s attempted block triggered a multi-car wreck that drew sharp criticism from several NASCAR Cup Series champions, including Brad Keselowski. The incident unfolded just after the leaders took the white flag, dramatically affecting the race outcome and igniting heated discussions around race tactics and safety.
Details of the Last-Lap Incident
As the race neared its conclusion, a chaotic struggle for position erupted behind leader Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Early in the lap, a push on the outside line caused Carson Hocevar, Erik Jones, and Michael McDowell to crash, clearing a three-wide battle for first place.
Zane Smith’s push helped Chase Elliott claim the lead, followed by Smith, Reddick, and Herbst. Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Stenhouse, and Chris Buescher trailed closely as the pack entered the backstretch. At the start-finish line, Reddick made a sharp move to the inside, while Smith fell back.
Herbst, running behind Elliott, chose not to assist the Hendrick Motorsports driver with a push. Instead, he attempted a high-risk move, trying to block Keselowski’s advancing run by shifting from the bottom lane to the outside.
Keselowski’s Harsh Criticism of Herbst’s Move
The block failed catastrophically. Herbst spun off Keselowski’s car, racing Elliott into the wall and involving Logano in the crash. Stenhouse was also forced into the wall as the pileup extended. Tyler Reddick managed to avoid the wreck and secured his first Daytona 500 victory.
Keselowski was particularly blunt about Herbst’s decision, calling it
“one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen.”
He said,
“The 35 (Herbst) just wrecked me out of nowhere for no reason,”
Brad Keselowski said in a FanBuzz interview.
“That was one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen. He had no chance of blocking my run.”
Keselowski further explained his frustration, stating,
“I had a huge run. I don’t know if I could have gotten the 45 (Tyler Reddick) or 47 (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.), but I would have liked to have found out because my run was coming fast. And the 35 just wrecked us and himself. Pretty stupid.”
He added on the extent of the block,
“I thought, well, one lane block kind of makes sense, but to block from the very bottom all the way to the top and wreck yourself and everybody else is just stupid. Very, very stupid.”
Reactions from Other Drivers Affected
Chase Elliott, who was among those impacted, expressed mixed emotions about the incident. After leaving the infield care center, Elliott reflected on his options in the final moments before the crash:
“I was going to get crashed if I had tried to throw another move on (Reddick),”
he said.
“I feel like the best play for me was to try and re-rack and get one last shove to the line. But it was the 35 and he wasn’t going to push me. Then he winds up crashing himself, not pushing me, which then in turn crashed me anyway. Maybe I should have just turned left and re-racked the first time.”
Finishing positions reflected the chaos: Stenhouse came second, Logano third despite spinning, Elliott fourth while spinning, and Keselowski fifth while spinning. Herbst was credited with eighth place despite causing the wreck.
Impact on the Race and Future NASCAR Discussions
Tyler Reddick’s unchallenged surge to the finish line secured his first Daytona 500 win, as the crash eliminated several careful contenders in the final moments. The wreck raised questions about the risks drivers take when attempting aggressive blocking maneuvers, particularly at a high-speed superspeedway like Daytona.
Keselowski’s outspoken condemnation highlights the tensions drivers face balancing strategic blocks with safety and racecraft. As NASCAR crews and fans digest the aftermath, the conversation about blocking etiquette and potential rule adjustments will continue to be a major topic in the sport’s ongoing evolution.
#NASCAR – Brad Keselowski called Riley Herbst's attempted block on the final lap of the Daytona 500 one of the dumbest things he's ever seen.
"Pretty stupid." pic.twitter.com/PGp7RMdbj2— John Newby (@JohnNewby_) February 15, 2026
TYLER REDDICK WINS THE DAYTONA 500! pic.twitter.com/nOAjUM4Buu
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 15, 2026
