On Lap 118, a restart ignited chaos as the race field spread three and four-wide through the opening corners. Brad Keselowski from RFK Racing made a daring five-wide attempt to gain ground, but the narrow space resulted in disaster. Driving deep onto the apron, Keselowski soon ran out of room, clipped the inside wall, and collided with Shane van Gisbergen alongside him.
Multi-Car Wreck Erupts After Contact
Van Gisbergen spun at the exit of Turn 2, triggering a major multi-car pileup. While all the playoff drivers managed to steer clear, this crash abruptly ended what had been one of van Gisbergen’s best performances on an oval track. He had qualified tenth—his career-best—and earned his first oval stage points before his involvement in the collision.
Several Drivers Suffer Damage; Playoff Contenders Escape
Kyle Busch, Daniel Suarez, and Justin Haley were among those caught in the wreck. Suarez’s car even lifted off the ground as a result of the impact. The incident almost engulfed all three Trackhouse Racing cars, but Ross Chastain, their last playoff competitor, narrowly avoided the crash. Due to heavy damage, Suarez, van Gisbergen, and Haley had to go behind the wall, though Busch and Keselowski continued with impaired vehicles.
Escalating Tensions Between Teammates Add to Race Drama
The race also saw tensions boil over between Joe Gibbs Racing teammates when Denny Hamlin deliberately crashed Ty Gibbs. The aggressive move stemmed from Hamlin’s frustration with Gibbs’ style of racing against fellow championship contenders on the team, adding further unrest to an already tumultuous event.
“Brad Keselowski was bold enough to try five-wide, but there simply wasn’t enough room for it.” ?Commentator
“He touched the inside wall and collided with Shane van Gisbergen beside him.” ?Race Analyst
“SVG went spinning at the exit of Turn 2, causing a multi-car pileup.” ?Race Official
This incident highlights how fiercely contested restarts can quickly unravel, affecting multiple drivers and reshaping the race dynamics. Keselowski’s risky move and the resulting crash diminished chances for several competitors, while the intra-team conflict at Joe Gibbs Racing signals heightened tensions as the playoffs progress. Going forward, drivers and teams will need to balance aggression with caution in high-stakes moments to avoid costly mistakes.
