During the climactic moments of the Daytona 500, tension erupted when Brad Keselowski became entangled in a collision attributed to Riley Herbst’s aggressive maneuver on the final lap. Tyler Reddick secured the victory with crucial assistance from Herbst, who pushed Reddick forward while attempting to hold back the chasing pack. However, Herbst’s risky move triggered a wreck involving Keselowski, igniting sharp criticism from the RFK Racing co-owner.
Sequence of Events Leading to the Crash
The dramatic restart on Lap 193 set the stage after a caution caused by contact between Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell. Carson Hocevar initially led into the final lap but was spun out following a collision with Erik Jones, handing the lead to Chase Elliott. As Reddick and Herbst closed in with momentum off the last turn, Reddick moved left beside Elliott, while Keselowski attempted a highline maneuver to create a three-wide formation on the right side of the No. 9 car.
Herbst then shifted toward Keselowski near the wall, aiming to block his path. Unfortunately for Herbst, Keselowski was already positioned there, leaving minimal room to avoid contact. Their collision caused a chain reaction just before the finish line, allowing Reddick to slip through the crash and claim victory as the rest of the field bunched up behind them.
Keselowski’s Strong Reaction to Herbst’s Tactics
Keselowski expressed his frustration immediately after the race, condemning the contact as an unnecessary and reckless move. He stated,
“Oh, the 35 just wrecked me out of nowhere for no reason. That was one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen. He had no chance of blocking my run. I had a huge run. I don’t know if I could have gotten the 45 or 47, but I would like to have found out because my run was coming fast. And the 35 just wrecked us and himself. Pretty stupid.”
He further added,
“I thought, well, you know, one lane block kind of makes sense, but the block from the very bottom all the way to the top and wreck yourself and everybody else is just stupid. Very, very stupid.”
These remarks highlighted Keselowski’s deep disappointment and disbelief at the timing and nature of Herbst’s move during such a critical moment in the race.
Herbst Defends His Actions Amid Criticism
In response to Keselowski’s comments, Riley Herbst stood by his decisions, explaining the confusing circumstances he faced after the Hocevar-Jones incident. Despite seeing smoke and cars spreading out on the track, no caution flag was issued, which led to a green-flag finish. Herbst described how the field spread across the backstretch, prompting him to latch onto Reddick’s bumper and boost his momentum.
Attempting to push for a three-wide finish, Herbst admitted the difference between success and failure hinged on mere inches. Addressing Keselowski’s anger, he said,
“Yeah, I wasn’t trying to make a move to go to second. Yeah. Well, I mean, it’s fractions of a second and we’re trying to win the Daytona 500. Brad’s been trying to win for, you probably know how many years it’s been. 17. So, yeah, he’ll tell you that it’s a matter of inches and we’re on the wrong side of inches.”
Herbst’s remarks reveal his focus was on pursuing victory, even if it meant taking risks that ultimately sparked controversy with an experienced competitor like Keselowski.
Implications of the Collision and Future Rivalry
This incident underscores the high-pressure dynamics at play in the final laps of one of NASCAR’s premier races, where split-second decisions can make or break outcomes. Keselowski’s harsh criticism and Herbst’s unapologetic defense suggest a tense rivalry may develop between the two RFK Racing teammates moving forward. The clash also serves as a reminder of how aggressive tactics in tightly contested finishes can spark prolonged disputes.
As the NASCAR season advances, observers will be watching to see if Keselowski and Herbst manage to set aside their differences or if this fiery moment marks the beginning of further on-track confrontations, especially given the significance of the Daytona 500 win credited to Reddick with Herbst’s push.
We HAVE to take another look at the final lap of the Daytona 500. pic.twitter.com/1sAaD5FZM4
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 15, 2026
Brad Keselowski on Riley Herbst: "That was one of the dumbest things I've ever seen. He had no chance of blocking my run …. Very, very stupid." @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/4czJiCkoBU
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 15, 2026
Riley Herbst: "We're trying to win the Daytona 500. … [Brad] will tell you it's a matter of inches and we were on the wrong side of inches." @NASCARONFOX https://t.co/gyf4RHuszX pic.twitter.com/1Mf4NwwEOR
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 15, 2026
